Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Miyazaki and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Miyazaki: $1,105 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Miyazaki
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,105
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Miyazaki and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Miyazaki and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,105 in Miyazaki versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Miyazaki $1,105
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,754 in Miyazaki versus $2,102 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Miyazaki $1,754
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,402 in Miyazaki versus $3,000 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Miyazaki $2,402
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Living in Miyazaki costs roughly 8% less than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miyazaki 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.21 ¥982
$10.86 MX$201
-42.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.67 ¥4,371
$44.21 MX$817
-37.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.65 ¥735
$11.76 MX$217
-60.46%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ¥347
$3.68 MX$68.0
-40.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 ¥159
$1.34 MX$24.79
-25.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ¥103
$0.82 MX$15.24
-20.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 ¥243
$3.06 MX$56.6
-49.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥346
$4.94 MX$91.2
-55.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ¥204
$1.47 MX$27.17
-12.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ¥246
$2.22 MX$40.95
-29.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.46 ¥389
$1.48 MX$27.32
66.22%
Eggs
$2.10 ¥332
$2.49 MX$45.99
-15.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 ¥2,001
$7.52 MX$139
68.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.24 ¥828
$7.96 MX$147
-34.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.99 ¥3,001
$12.57 MX$232
51.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 ¥559
$2.78 MX$51.3
27.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 ¥282
$1.43 MX$26.37
25.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 ¥462
$2.62 MX$48.37
11.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 ¥494
$2.14 MX$39.49
46.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 ¥291
$2.02 MX$37.38
-8.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 ¥303
$1.99 MX$36.74
-3.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ¥103
$1.14 MX$21.01
-42.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ¥143
$1.20 MX$22.18
-24.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86 ¥609
$4.26 MX$78.7
-9.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.33 ¥1,000
$10.02 MX$185
-36.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 ¥263
$1.54 MX$28.41
7.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥286
$2.66 MX$49.17
-31.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 ¥241
$0.53 MX$9.73
186.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.6 ¥8,315
$27.51 MX$508
91.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 ¥535
$4.90 MX$90.6
-30.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ¥320
$3.43 MX$63.5
-40.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.96 ¥2,522
$5.38 MX$99.4
196.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 ¥160
$1.45 MX$26.76
-30.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ¥3.4M
$21.2K MX$391.0K
0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K ¥2.3M
$23.0K MX$425.3K
-35.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 ¥16.9K
$85.4 MX$1,577
25.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.98 ¥3,947
$23.46 MX$434
6.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.21 ¥5,247
$28.43 MX$525
16.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 ¥8,372
$62.2 MX$1,149
-14.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.95 ¥1,729
$5.10 MX$94.3
114.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 ¥20.1K
$201 MX$3,715
-36.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ¥2.0M
$3,947 MX$72.9K
215.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.45 ¥7,655
$44.39 MX$820
9.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.75 ¥3,910
$41.35 MX$764
-40.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.2 ¥8,877
$72.7 MX$1,344
-22.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.91 ¥7,569
$89.6 MX$1,656
-46.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 ¥83.4K
$979 MX$18.1K
-46.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 ¥52.6K
$373 MX$6,887
-10.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 ¥171.2K
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-35.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 ¥116.8K
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-32.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,299 ¥679.1K
$3,949 MX$73.0K
8.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 ¥276.5K
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-71.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Miyazaki
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,281 ¥202.4K
$738 MX$13.6K
73.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.97
11.45
-82.79%

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

Last update for Miyazaki: October 18, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Miyazaki
$333
Playa del Carmen
$373 11.9% $40
Groceries & Markets
Miyazaki
$271
Playa del Carmen
$258 4.7% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miyazaki
$165
Playa del Carmen
$137 16.9% $28
Eating Out
Miyazaki
$109
Playa del Carmen
$200 84.1% $91
Clothing & Footwear
Miyazaki
$80
Playa del Carmen
$112 39.9% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Miyazaki
$75
Playa del Carmen
$72 3.3% $2.5
Getting Around
Miyazaki
$72
Playa del Carmen
$52 28.5% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Miyazaki and $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miyazaki pays 74% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Miyazaki vs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $258, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Miyazaki
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
09:41 9:41 AM
19:41 7:41 PM
14 h behind Miyazaki
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
401,339
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Miyazaki Playa del Carmen 12,880 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Miyazaki
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Miyazaki vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Miyazaki and in Playa del Carmen?
Miyazaki and Playa del Carmen differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,105 vs $1,204 including rent). Miyazaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Miyazaki or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 74% higher in Miyazaki, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Miyazaki and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $528 in Miyazaki versus $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Miyazaki – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Miyazaki or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,105 per month in Miyazaki versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,105 in Miyazaki versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Miyazaki but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Miyazaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Miyazaki and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Miyazaki or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Miyazaki 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.
Where should expats move: Miyazaki or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Miyazaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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