🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $489 in Nyamata versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Nyamata versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,101 in Nyamata versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Nyamata costs roughly 62% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nyamata63% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38RWF 4,938
$11.73MX$204
-71.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.25RWF 15.0K
$41.78MX$725
-75.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.52RWF 9,516
$10.41MX$181
-37.37%
Cappuccino
$1.70RWF 2,481
$3.61MX$62.6
-52.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67RWF 983
$1.46MX$25.28
-54.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43RWF 628
$0.97MX$16.84
-55.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.07RWF 1,560
$2.92MX$50.8
-63.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42RWF 2,079
$4.62MX$80.2
-69.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68RWF 986
$1.43MX$24.80
-52.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85RWF 1,235
$1.90MX$32.98
-55.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30RWF 1,892
$1.57MX$27.18
-17.20%
Eggs
$1.72RWF 2,507
$2.64MX$45.73
-34.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.70RWF 5,398
$8.44MX$146
-56.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84RWF 4,140
$8.58MX$149
-66.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.65RWF 5,335
$11.00MX$191
-66.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48RWF 3,627
$2.70MX$46.91
-8.15%
Banana(1kg)
$0.41RWF 593
$1.51MX$26.15
-72.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.66RWF 962
$1.91MX$33.22
-65.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58RWF 843
$2.17MX$37.69
-73.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48RWF 697
$1.87MX$32.53
-74.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75RWF 1,097
$2.23MX$38.76
-66.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.34RWF 491
$1.08MX$18.76
-68.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71RWF 1,044
$1.07MX$18.63
-33.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43RWF 2,082
$4.16MX$72.2
-65.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.24RWF 14.9K
$10.29MX$179
-0.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97RWF 1,420
$1.68MX$29.20
-42.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72RWF 2,516
$2.53MX$43.96
-32.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.55MX$9.61
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.20RWF 45.6K
$26.29MX$456
18.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.57RWF 3,750
$3.20MX$55.5
-19.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39RWF 2,036
$2.46MX$42.73
-43.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19RWF 4,662
$3.20MX$55.5
-0.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18RWF 1,724
$1.32MX$22.91
-10.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KRWF 38.8M
$30.2KMX$523.3K
-11.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KRWF 35.5M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
4.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.11RWF 67.3K
$81.4MX$1,412
-43.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68RWF 12.7K
$22.41MX$389
-61.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.16RWF 25.0K
$29.97MX$520
-42.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.42RWF 69.2K
$51.6MX$895
-8.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$319
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.02RWF 2,950
$5.16MX$89.6
-60.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153RWF 223.8K
$202MX$3,501
-24.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,057RWF 7.4M
$5,311MX$92.2K
-4.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.96RWF 24.8K
$35.61MX$618
-52.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.19RWF 28.0K
$40.37MX$701
-52.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$24.12RWF 35.2K
$78.6MX$1,365
-69.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.42RWF 45.9K
$86.9MX$1,507
-63.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$104RWF 152.2K
$950MX$16.5K
-89.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.6RWF 101.7K
$478MX$8,298
-85.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353RWF 515.8K
$1,621MX$28.1K
-78.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246RWF 359.6K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-79.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nyamata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$186RWF 271.3K
$673MX$11.7K
-72.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.2
11.42
41.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nyamata: June 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $104 in Nyamata and $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 262% 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: $10.00 in Nyamata vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $126 vs $254 per month, with Nyamata 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
Nyamata vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nyamata or Playa del Carmen?
Nyamata wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nyamata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nyamata or in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 262% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nyamata compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $104 in Nyamata versus $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Nyamata compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Nyamata runs roughly 19% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Nyamata and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $153 in Nyamata versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nyamata or in Playa del Carmen?
At $489 in Nyamata versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nyamata but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Nyamata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nyamata or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nyamata delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $489 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nyamata hard to pass up.
How safe is Nyamata compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Nyamata 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 Nyamata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.