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: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $533 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $927 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,320 in Eldoret.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 143% more expensive than in Eldoret, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Eldoret 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$204
$5.49 KES 712
113.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$725
$38.81 KES 5,028
7.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$181
$6.90 KES 894
50.87%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$2.38 KES 308
51.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.28
$0.72 KES 93.0
102.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.53 KES 69.2
83.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.8
$2.29 KES 297
27.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$80.2
$2.93 KES 380
57.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.80
$0.69 KES 89.9
107.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.98
$0.45 KES 58.2
322.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.18
$1.19 KES 155
31.93%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.73
$1.59 KES 206
66.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$146
$3.97 KES 514
112.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$149
$3.66 KES 474
134.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$191
$4.16 KES 539
164.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.91
$3.12 KES 404
-13.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.15
$0.93 KES 121
62.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.22
$1.62 KES 210
17.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.69
$1.06 KES 137
104.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.53
$0.52 KES 67.6
259.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.76
$0.88 KES 114
153.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.76
$0.68 KES 88.1
58.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$0.64 KES 82.3
67.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$72.2
$3.14 KES 407
32.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$179
$5.87 KES 761
75.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.20
$1.78 KES 230
-5.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.96
$1.59 KES 207
59.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.61
$1.37 KES 178
-59.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$456
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$1.54 KES 199
107.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.73
$1.57 KES 204
56.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$2.86 KES 371
11.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.91
$1.54 KES 200
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$523.3K
$21.3K KES 2.8M
41.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$20.3K KES 2.6M
15.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,412
$34.97 KES 4,530
132.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$389
$16.86 KES 2,184
32.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$520
$39.80 KES 5,156
-24.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$38.34 KES 4,967
34.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$319
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$89.6
$5.01 KES 648
2.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,501
$64.2 KES 8,319
214.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$92.2K
$7,886 KES 1.0M
-32.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$618
$11.47 KES 1,487
210.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$701
$24.12 KES 3,125
67.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,365
$19.64 KES 2,545
300.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,507
$34.42 KES 4,459
152.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.5K
$92.4 KES 12.0K
927.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,298
$90.0 KES 11.7K
431.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$28.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$270 KES 35.0K
352.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.6K
$618 KES 80.0K
548.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Eldoret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.7K
-
-
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $92.4 in Eldoret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $39.00 in Eldoret for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 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 143% 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 $1,941 in Playa del Carmen and $800 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: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $92.4 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 87% 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 $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $533 in Eldoret – a 143% 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 $533 in Eldoret versus $1,294 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 $533 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 143% 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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