😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Naha vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,908 per month in Naha vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,554 per month in Naha vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Naha and Playa del Carmen have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Naha and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Naha6% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.71¥928
$11.99MX$209
-52.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.51¥4,958
$41.78MX$728
-26.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07¥824
$10.75MX$187
-52.84%
Cappuccino
$3.21¥521
$3.50MX$60.9
-8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37¥223
$1.45MX$25.22
-5.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92¥149
$0.88MX$15.41
4.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.57¥580
$2.95MX$51.3
21.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06¥660
$4.51MX$78.6
-9.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60¥261
$1.43MX$24.94
11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52¥247
$1.84MX$31.99
-17.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.69¥763
$1.57MX$27.31
198.73%
Eggs
$2.31¥376
$2.51MX$43.74
-7.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05¥1,633
$8.28MX$144
21.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.30¥1,023
$8.43MX$147
-25.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.51¥2,519
$10.68MX$186
45.22%
Apples(1kg)
$5.20¥845
$2.61MX$45.43
99.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65¥431
$1.44MX$25.04
84.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.14¥672
$1.96MX$34.16
111.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.82¥945
$2.09MX$36.47
178.47%
Potato(1kg)
$3.14¥511
$1.85MX$32.24
69.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57¥418
$2.17MX$37.74
18.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥225
$1.03MX$17.96
34.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84¥137
$1.07MX$18.70
-21.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13¥671
$4.10MX$71.4
0.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09¥990
$10.17MX$177
-40.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83¥298
$1.68MX$29.17
8.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19¥355
$2.53MX$43.98
-13.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60¥260
$0.51MX$8.87
213.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.8¥9,060
$26.04MX$453
114.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46¥562
$3.23MX$56.3
7.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96¥481
$2.41MX$41.88
22.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.63¥3,352
$3.23MX$56.2
538.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11¥181
$1.32MX$23.00
-15.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K¥3.7M
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-23.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K¥2.8M
$23.7KMX$412.0K
-26.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145¥23.6K
$82.0MX$1,428
76.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.36¥4,445
$22.95MX$400
19.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.58¥5,618
$30.11MX$524
14.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6¥9,035
$52.0MX$905
7.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.89¥2,256
$18.53MX$323
-25.04%
Cinema Ticket
$12.51¥2,033
$4.98MX$86.6
151.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278¥45.2K
$197MX$3,438
40.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K¥2.2M
$5,336MX$92.9K
153.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.73¥7,105
$35.60MX$620
22.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.97¥4,870
$40.33MX$702
-25.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.0¥9,910
$78.8MX$1,371
-22.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4¥14.7K
$88.9MX$1,549
1.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475¥77.2K
$947MX$16.5K
-49.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$323¥52.6K
$474MX$8,254
-31.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,862¥302.5K
$1,644MX$28.6K
13.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651¥105.7K
$1,211MX$21.1K
-46.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,109¥667.6K
$4,056MX$70.6K
1.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,979¥321.6K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-69.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$912¥148.2K
$654MX$11.4K
39.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
11.42
-84.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Naha: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Naha versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 39% higher in Naha. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Naha versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $311 in Naha vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Naha vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Naha and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Naha and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Naha or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Naha or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Naha, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do childcare costs compare in Naha and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Naha and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Naha or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Naha at $1,261. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Naha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Naha or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,261 in Naha. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Naha compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Naha or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Naha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.