😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $539 in Eldoret.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $940 in Eldoret.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,340 in Eldoret.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 139% more expensive than Eldoret, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Eldoret60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$5.54KES 715
115.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$38.10KES 4,917
12.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.95KES 898
52.37%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.44KES 315
48.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.74KES 95.7
98.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.54KES 69.5
74.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.27KES 293
36.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.85KES 368
56.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.70KES 90.4
104.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.48KES 61.8
291.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.24KES 160
31.45%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.64KES 212
60.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$3.97KES 512
106.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.64KES 470
127.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$4.17KES 538
166.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.15KES 407
-15.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$0.89KES 114
68.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.64KES 211
21.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.04KES 135
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.56KES 72.4
219.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.89KES 115
144.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.65KES 84.2
66.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.64KES 82.3
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.17KES 409
25.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.94KES 766
71.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.69KES 218
2.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.57KES 203
59.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.37KES 177
-62.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.58KES 203
98.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.52KES 196
57.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$2.95KES 381
4.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.53KES 198
-16.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$21.6KKES 2.8M
42.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$19.9KKES 2.6M
16.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$33.93KES 4,380
141.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$16.66KES 2,150
34.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$38.81KES 5,009
-23.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$38.19KES 4,929
35.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.15KES 664
-3.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$65.5KES 8,450
202.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$8,025KES 1.0M
-34.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$11.66KES 1,504
211.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$23.97KES 3,094
67.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$19.57KES 2,526
308.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$34.63KES 4,469
156.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$91.6KES 11.8K
951.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$90.6KES 11.7K
413.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$268KES 34.6K
350.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$627KES 80.9K
528.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12
-4.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Eldoret: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $91.6 in Eldoret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $38.00 in Eldoret for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $136 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 139% 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 vs Eldoret?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $809 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 vs Eldoret?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $91.6 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 Eldoret?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% 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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $539 in Eldoret – a 139% 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 Eldoret?
At $539 in Eldoret versus $1,287 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 $539 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 139% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared