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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 41% more than Astana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$8.27 ₸3,889

44.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$29.74 ₸14.0K

40.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$5.74 ₸2,697

87.28%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$2.22 ₸1,045

57.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.91 ₸429

59.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.57 ₸266

54.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.18 ₸557

150.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$3.01 ₸1,413

49.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.97 ₸456

47.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.46 ₸219

300.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.38 ₸650

13.77%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.69 ₸794

48.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$9.49 ₸4,460

-12.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$4.83 ₸2,269

74.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$6.98 ₸3,281

53.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$1.37 ₸643

90.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$1.84 ₸863

-21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.90 ₸895

3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.88 ₸886

11.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.56 ₸262

230.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$0.37 ₸176

486.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$0.96 ₸449

7.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.74 ₸349

44.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$1.90 ₸895

115.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$9.54 ₸4,482

6.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$0.97 ₸455

73.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$1.68 ₸789

50.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.23 ₸108

121.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$14.80 ₸6,955

75.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$1.80 ₸844

79.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.71 ₸333

239.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$4.32 ₸2,028

-25.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$0.51 ₸239

158.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$20.3K ₸9.5M

46.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$25.2K ₸11.9M

-6.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,428

$53.3 ₸25.0K

54.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$400

$8.34 ₸3,918

175.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$13.70 ₸6,438

119.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$51.0 ₸24.0K

1.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$10.96 ₸5,150

69.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$5.22 ₸2,454

-4.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

$239 ₸112.3K

-17.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$4,800 ₸2.3M

11.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$57.4 ₸27.0K

-37.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$35.08 ₸16.5K

14.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$87.6 ₸41.2K

-10.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$87.7 ₸41.2K

1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$467 ₸219.4K

102.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$323 ₸151.6K

46.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$860 ₸404.3K

91.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$587 ₸276.0K

106.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$1,409 ₸662.3K

187.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$1,013 ₸476.3K

538.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$845 ₸397.2K

-22.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

16.12

-29.16%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $467 in Astana. 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 29% higher in Astana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $177 – making Astana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Playa del Carmen vs Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $892 in Astana – roughly 41% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,338 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $239 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $892, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $892 in Astana to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Astana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.