🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Koysinjaq versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,072 in Koysinjaq versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,420 in Koysinjaq versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Koysinjaq costs roughly 42% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Koysinjaq46% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34IQD 3,062
$11.72MX$204
-80.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.41IQD 16.3K
$41.89MX$731
-70.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.74IQD 11.4K
$10.51MX$183
-16.84%
Cappuccino
$1.55IQD 2,028
$3.59MX$62.5
-56.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 520
$1.51MX$26.31
-73.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19IQD 247
$0.92MX$15.96
-79.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91IQD 2,504
$2.96MX$51.6
-35.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13IQD 2,783
$4.41MX$76.9
-51.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18IQD 1,540
$1.40MX$24.35
-15.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78IQD 1,025
$1.88MX$32.87
-58.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,480
$1.56MX$27.19
-27.56%
Eggs
$1.55IQD 2,027
$2.61MX$45.50
-40.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.21IQD 9,441
$8.32MX$145
-13.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88IQD 5,080
$8.35MX$146
-53.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.28IQD 12.2K
$10.86MX$189
-14.55%
Apples(1kg)
$0.78IQD 1,026
$2.71MX$47.31
-71.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,473
$1.51MX$26.25
-25.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,469
$1.87MX$32.67
-40.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56IQD 732
$2.19MX$38.19
-74.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59IQD 778
$1.86MX$32.40
-68.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59IQD 769
$2.23MX$38.90
-73.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36IQD 477
$1.07MX$18.63
-66.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 473
$1.09MX$18.94
-66.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26IQD 2,955
$4.19MX$73.0
-46.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.58IQD 16.5K
$10.43MX$182
20.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42IQD 1,862
$1.66MX$28.91
-14.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95IQD 2,549
$2.61MX$45.56
-25.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 520
$0.54MX$9.45
-25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.88IQD 40.4K
$26.16MX$456
18.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54IQD 2,018
$3.08MX$53.7
-50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75IQD 980
$2.40MX$41.94
-68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.74IQD 4,892
$3.13MX$54.5
19.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66IQD 860
$1.31MX$22.87
-49.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KIQD 25.5M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-34.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5KIQD 24.3M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
-20.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102IQD 133.0K
$81.3MX$1,418
25.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.42IQD 22.8K
$22.56MX$393
-22.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.39IQD 39.8K
$30.05MX$524
1.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.06IQD 48.5K
$52.9MX$923
-29.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04IQD 22.3K
$18.39MX$321
-7.34%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44IQD 15.0K
$4.92MX$85.8
132.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$64.7IQD 84.7K
$201MX$3,502
-67.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,154IQD 1.5M
$5,175MX$90.2K
-77.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.40IQD 20.2K
$35.92MX$627
-57.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.99IQD 24.9K
$40.13MX$700
-52.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.0IQD 106.0K
$79.7MX$1,390
1.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.48IQD 25.5K
$86.5MX$1,508
-77.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243IQD 318.5K
$978MX$17.1K
-75.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177IQD 231.2K
$470MX$8,206
-62.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585IQD 766.6K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-64.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340IQD 445.3K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-71.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
11.42
-50.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koysinjaq: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Koysinjaq and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Koysinjaq vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $252 per month, with Koysinjaq cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Koysinjaq vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koysinjaq or Playa del Carmen?
Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koysinjaq the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Koysinjaq and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,087 in Koysinjaq and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Koysinjaq compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Koysinjaq versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Koysinjaq compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $725 per month in Koysinjaq versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Koysinjaq compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Koysinjaq runs roughly 18% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Koysinjaq or in Playa del Carmen?
At $725 in Koysinjaq versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koysinjaq but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Koysinjaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Koysinjaq or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Koysinjaq delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $725 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koysinjaq hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Koysinjaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.