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 $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,916 in Astana, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 41% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

$11.61 MX$201

$8.23 ₸3,868

41.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$742

$29.11 ₸13.7K

46.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.60 MX$184

$5.95 ₸2,797

78.15%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.3

$2.15 ₸1,009

66.98%

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

$1.45 MX$25.21

$0.94 ₸442

54.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MX$15.58

$0.54 ₸252

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$1.19 ₸559

154.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 MX$79.2

$2.92 ₸1,371

56.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MX$25.20

$0.93 ₸439

55.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.72

$0.47 ₸221

289.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.92

$1.40 ₸660

15.00%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.05

$1.71 ₸804

48.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MX$148

$9.33 ₸4,386

-8.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 MX$147

$4.74 ₸2,229

78.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$7.10 ₸3,339

52.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.37

$1.32 ₸622

106.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.91

$1.83 ₸862

-18.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 MX$33.73

$1.98 ₸930

-2.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.57

$1.95 ₸919

10.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.05

$0.59 ₸276

213.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.00

$0.37 ₸176

491.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.62

$1.03 ₸483

3.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.81

$0.75 ₸351

44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MX$70.5

$1.81 ₸850

124.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.46 MX$182

$8.47 ₸3,980

23.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MX$28.71

$0.99 ₸467

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 MX$44.23

$1.65 ₸774

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.65

$0.21 ₸98.3

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

$14.43 ₸6,785

81.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.5

$1.71 ₸804

83.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 MX$41.17

$0.68 ₸318

248.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.2

$4.39 ₸2,064

-26.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.81

$0.51 ₸238

156.86%

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

$30.5K MX$530.2K

$20.5K ₸9.6M

48.84%

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

$23.8K MX$413.6K

$25.4K ₸11.9M

-6.06%

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

$83.1 MX$1,443

$54.5 ₸25.6K

52.58%

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

$22.15 MX$385

$8.14 ₸3,826

172.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.37 MX$510

$13.70 ₸6,442

114.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 MX$889

$50.0 ₸23.5K

2.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

$11.30 ₸5,312

65.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MX$84.9

$5.20 ₸2,446

-5.96%

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

$199 MX$3,449

$235 ₸110.3K

-15.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,207 MX$90.4K

$4,809 ₸2.3M

8.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$624

$56.2 ₸26.4K

-36.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.39 MX$684

$34.80 ₸16.4K

13.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 MX$1,394

$87.4 ₸41.1K

-8.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 MX$1,520

$87.9 ₸41.3K

-0.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.7K

$481 ₸225.9K

100.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MX$8,370

$324 ₸152.2K

48.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 MX$28.6K

$851 ₸399.9K

93.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 MX$20.7K

$605 ₸284.6K

96.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 MX$68.7K

$1,292 ₸607.1K

206.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 MX$113.1K

$943 ₸443.5K

590.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 MX$12.6K

$723 ₸339.8K

0.48%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $481 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 0% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $29 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $176 – 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: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $898 in Astana – roughly 41% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,346 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 $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $235 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $898, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,262. 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 $898 in Astana to $1,262 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.