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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $503 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $869 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,234 in Eldoret.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 164% more expensive than in Eldoret, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Eldoret 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02 MX$221
$1.51 KES 195
762.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25 MX$784
$34.72 KES 4,493
33.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.59 MX$213
$6.02 KES 779
109.14%
Cappuccino
$4.00 MX$67.9
$2.75 KES 355
45.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MX$24.08
$0.30 KES 38.82
373.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MX$13.73
$0.41 KES 52.9
97.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 MX$51.7
$2.39 KES 309
27.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 MX$116
$2.69 KES 348
153.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$29.04
$0.68 KES 87.5
151.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$37.62
$0.50 KES 64.3
344.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MX$29.13
$1.55 KES 200
10.97%
Eggs
$2.71 MX$45.99
$1.57 KES 203
72.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 MX$159
$3.88 KES 502
141.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.86 MX$150
$4.23 KES 548
109.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.78 MX$217
$4.23 KES 548
202.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 MX$53.0
$2.37 KES 307
32.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$26.24
$1.00 KES 129
55.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.51
$0.67 KES 86.4
220.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 MX$39.89
$0.92 KES 119
155.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$34.23
$0.55 KES 71.4
267.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.67
$0.48 KES 61.6
314.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.09
$0.70 KES 90.9
77.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$20.21
$0.66 KES 84.8
80.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 MX$78.8
$3.57 KES 461
30.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.47 MX$177
$5.97 KES 773
75.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$26.82
$2.04 KES 263
-22.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 MX$49.48
$1.51 KES 195
93.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.53
$1.35 KES 174
-58.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.76 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 MX$90.2
$1.53 KES 197
247.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.72 MX$63.0
$1.52 KES 197
144.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$97.9
$2.97 KES 384
94.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.27
$1.53 KES 198
1.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K MX$379.1K
$18.8K KES 2.4M
18.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K MX$433.3K
$19.2K KES 2.5M
33.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.3 MX$1,513
$39.96 KES 5,171
123.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30 MX$395
$15.34 KES 1,985
51.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72 MX$538
$34.18 KES 4,423
-7.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,165
$39.07 KES 5,055
75.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40 MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 MX$85.7
$5.13 KES 664
-1.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 MX$3,765
$63.1 KES 8,166
252.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,293 MX$72.7K
$10.9K KES 1.4M
-60.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21 MX$783
$11.53 KES 1,492
300.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 MX$753
$24.72 KES 3,199
79.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 MX$1,618
$19.65 KES 2,542
385.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5 MX$1,568
$35.15 KES 4,549
163.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$93.4 KES 12.1K
1044.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 MX$6,663
$87.8 KES 11.4K
347.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 MX$33.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 MX$22.1K
$276 KES 35.7K
372.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,037 MX$68.4K
$608 KES 78.7K
563.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
14.71
-21.14%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $93.4 in Eldoret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $35.00 in Eldoret for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $133 per month, with Eldoret 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
Playa del Carmen vs Eldoret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Eldoret?
Eldoret wins on cost – living expenses run 164% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eldoret the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Eldoret?
You'd need roughly $1,995 in Playa del Carmen and $755 in Eldoret to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Eldoret?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $93.4 in Eldoret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Eldoret?
Supermarket bills run roughly 108% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Eldoret?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $503 in Eldoret – a 164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Eldoret?
At $503 in Eldoret versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Eldoret but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Eldoret the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Eldoret?
Both work as nomad bases, but Eldoret delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $503 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Eldoret hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Eldoret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% 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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