Cost of Living Comparison Between Kununurra and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kununurra and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,233 in Kununurra versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Kununurra versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,257 in Kununurra versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Kununurra is roughly 74% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kununurra is 67% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52 A$23.13
$11.94 MX$209
38.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.7 A$110
$42.75 MX$748
84.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 A$13.31
$10.59 MX$185
-10.20%
Cappuccino
$3.48 A$4.87
$3.62 MX$63.4
-3.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 A$3.60
$1.47 MX$25.69
74.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 A$2.94
$0.94 MX$16.51
123.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 A$8.86
$3.09 MX$54.1
104.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 A$10.01
$4.46 MX$78.0
60.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.08
$1.43 MX$24.94
3.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 A$3.26
$1.88 MX$32.97
23.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 A$2.81
$1.63 MX$28.50
23.31%
Eggs
$4.24 A$5.94
$2.64 MX$46.26
60.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.77 A$12.27
$8.21 MX$144
6.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.50 A$11.89
$8.29 MX$145
2.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.77 A$19.28
$11.10 MX$194
24.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 A$4.65
$2.65 MX$46.40
25.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 A$3.87
$1.50 MX$26.26
84.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 A$4.05
$1.99 MX$34.79
45.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 A$5.69
$2.08 MX$36.33
95.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 A$3.53
$1.79 MX$31.29
40.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 A$3.05
$2.18 MX$38.09
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 A$2.95
$1.08 MX$18.84
94.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.14
$1.04 MX$18.15
47.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.75 A$36.05
$3.97 MX$69.5
548.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.42 A$20.18
$10.20 MX$179
41.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.66 A$6.53
$1.73 MX$30.22
169.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39 A$7.54
$2.50 MX$43.71
115.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.63 A$3.68
$0.52 MX$9.07
405.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.9 A$90.9
$26.97 MX$472
140.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 A$5.09
$3.14 MX$55.0
15.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 A$2.28
$2.40 MX$42.04
-32.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.02 A$47.63
$3.09 MX$54.0
1000.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 A$1.59
$1.27 MX$22.28
-10.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$40.0K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K A$30.9K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
-5.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 A$258
$82.0 MX$1,435
124.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.04 A$37.85
$22.45 MX$393
20.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.4 A$74.8
$29.66 MX$519
80.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 A$67.2
$51.9 MX$908
-7.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.76 A$22.07
$18.67 MX$327
-15.59%
Cinema Ticket
$12.88 A$18.04
$4.97 MX$87.0
159.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,611 A$2,255
$198 MX$3,462
714.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K A$17.0K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
130.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 A$95.0
$36.34 MX$636
86.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 A$70.7
$40.05 MX$701
26.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 A$140
$79.9 MX$1,398
24.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$149
$88.9 MX$1,555
19.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,273 A$1,783
$963 MX$16.9K
32.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 A$1,466
$465 MX$8,133
125.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,003 A$2,804
$1,596 MX$27.9K
25.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 A$2,389
$1,209 MX$21.2K
41.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,748 A$8,047
$3,942 MX$69.0K
45.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,846 A$6,784
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-24.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kununurra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
11.42
-44.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kununurra: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,273 in Kununurra and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in Kununurra vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Kununurra vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kununurra or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Kununurra. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kununurra vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,350 in Kununurra and $1,930 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 Kununurra vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,273 in Kununurra versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kununurra vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $79.0 in Kununurra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kununurra compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,233 per month in Kununurra versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kununurra or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,233 in Kununurra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kununurra. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kununurra or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Kununurra compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Kununurra and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Kununurra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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