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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,137 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,720 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,303 in Iasi, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 14% more than Iasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Iasi 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$10.52 RON 47.59

11.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$719

$51.4 RON 232

-18.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.73 RON 30.46

58.10%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.8

$2.68 RON 12.13

31.34%

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

$1.51 MX$26.09

$2.08 RON 9.39

-27.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.82

$1.74 RON 7.88

-44.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$2.46 RON 11.12

19.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$3.42 RON 15.47

30.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.90

$1.40 RON 6.33

-1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.69

$1.22 RON 5.51

54.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.29

$1.87 RON 8.45

-12.30%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.30

$3.21 RON 14.51

-21.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.95 RON 35.98

4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$6.70 RON 30.32

24.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$185

$10.99 RON 49.71

-2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.00

$1.24 RON 5.61

109.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.18

$1.62 RON 7.33

-9.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.84

$1.73 RON 7.84

9.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.88

$1.97 RON 8.90

5.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.68

$0.99 RON 4.48

79.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.76

$1.05 RON 4.73

108.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.97

$1.04 RON 4.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$0.86 RON 3.89

25.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.5

$6.37 RON 28.85

-35.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$6.61 RON 29.92

56.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

$1.09 RON 4.95

56.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

$1.98 RON 8.96

30.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.85 RON 3.84

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$457

$27.13 RON 123

-2.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$0.89 RON 4.03

266.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.05

$0.70 RON 3.16

255.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$7.84 RON 35.48

-58.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.59

$1.66 RON 7.51

-21.08%

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

$30.3K MX$523.2K

$28.5K RON 129.2K

6.10%

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

$23.4K MX$404.9K

$27.3K RON 123.7K

-14.30%

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

$82.9 MX$1,432

$156 RON 708

-46.99%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$8.47 RON 38.35

162.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$10.21 RON 46.22

187.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$892

$47.10 RON 213

9.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$18.25 RON 82.6

0.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.5

$8.17 RON 36.99

-37.94%

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

$201 MX$3,470

$463 RON 2,095

-56.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$7,028 RON 31.8K

-25.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$638

$62.3 RON 282

-40.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$42.79 RON 194

-7.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,356

$86.4 RON 391

-9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,505

$86.9 RON 393

0.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$474 RON 2,147

105.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,082

$361 RON 1,635

29.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$750 RON 3,395

118.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$550 RON 2,491

121.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.2K

$3,076 RON 13.9K

28.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

$1,997 RON 9,036

225.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$1,191 RON 5,389

-44.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

7.37

54.95%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $474 in Iasi. 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 79% higher in Iasi, 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 $51.0 in Iasi. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $212 in Iasi – so Iasi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $1,137 in Iasi – roughly 14% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,706 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 3% less in Iasi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $463 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Iasi, where all-in costs run around $1,137, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Iasi 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 $1,137 in Iasi to $1,297 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 Iasi. 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.