🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $975 in Kukes versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Kukes versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Kukes versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Kukes costs roughly 24% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kukes27% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.21ALL 753
$11.94MX$208
-22.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.88ALL 3,014
$42.75MX$744
-13.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.22ALL 590
$10.59MX$184
-31.82%
Cappuccino
$1.86ALL 152
$3.62MX$63.0
-48.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63ALL 133
$1.47MX$25.54
10.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83ALL 67.7
$0.94MX$16.41
-11.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42ALL 197
$3.09MX$53.8
-21.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19ALL 260
$4.46MX$77.6
-28.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54ALL 126
$1.43MX$24.80
7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79ALL 64.9
$1.88MX$32.79
-57.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01ALL 164
$1.63MX$28.34
23.31%
Eggs
$3.05ALL 249
$2.64MX$45.99
15.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.25ALL 756
$8.21MX$143
12.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13ALL 583
$8.29MX$144
-13.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.38ALL 685
$11.10MX$193
-24.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15ALL 94.2
$2.65MX$46.14
-56.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73ALL 142
$1.50MX$26.11
15.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98ALL 80.3
$1.99MX$34.59
-50.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38ALL 113
$2.08MX$36.13
-33.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73ALL 59.3
$1.79MX$31.11
-59.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81ALL 65.8
$2.18MX$37.87
-62.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90ALL 73.8
$1.08MX$18.73
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68ALL 55.7
$1.04MX$18.04
-34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45ALL 282
$3.97MX$69.1
-13.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56ALL 618
$10.20MX$178
-25.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92ALL 74.9
$1.73MX$30.04
-46.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82ALL 149
$2.50MX$43.46
-27.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45ALL 36.71
$0.52MX$9.02
-13.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.02ALL 1,555
$26.97MX$469
-29.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58ALL 292
$3.14MX$54.7
14.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.17ALL 259
$2.40MX$41.80
32.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.69ALL 384
$3.09MX$53.7
51.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17ALL 178
$1.27MX$22.16
70.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KALL 2.8M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
12.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KALL 2.1M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
8.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.0ALL 5,558
$82.0MX$1,427
-17.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.24ALL 1,409
$22.45MX$391
-23.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.16ALL 1,321
$29.66MX$516
-45.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.0ALL 4,496
$51.9MX$903
6.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.70ALL 2,101
$18.67MX$325
37.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57ALL 292
$4.97MX$86.5
-28.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.1ALL 7,610
$198MX$3,442
-52.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,273MX$91.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.85ALL 2,848
$36.34MX$632
-4.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.08ALL 1,886
$40.05MX$697
-42.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.65ALL 3,322
$79.9MX$1,390
-49.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.87ALL 3,994
$88.9MX$1,547
-45.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459ALL 37.5K
$963MX$16.8K
-52.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337ALL 27.5K
$465MX$8,086
-27.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$614ALL 50.2K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-61.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$436ALL 35.6K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-63.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,843ALL 150.6K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-53.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,228ALL 100.3K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-80.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kukes
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$460ALL 37.6K
$720MX$12.5K
-36.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.42
-64.97%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Kukes: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $459 in Kukes and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 57% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Kukes vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $251 per month, with Kukes cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Kukes vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kukes?
Kukes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kukes or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 57% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kukes and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $459 in Kukes versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kukes runs roughly 42% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $93.1 in Kukes versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kukes or Playa del Carmen?
At $975 in Kukes versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kukes but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kukes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kukes or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Kukes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kukes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.