Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ichinomiya

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Ichinomiya: $1,204 and $1,196 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Ichinomiya
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,196
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Ichinomiya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Ichinomiya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,196 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Ichinomiya $1,196

A couple spends around $2,102 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,897 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Ichinomiya $1,897

A family of three spends $3,000 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,598 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Ichinomiya $2,598

Playa del Carmen costs about 1% more than Ichinomiya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Ichinomiya are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Ichinomiya 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$6.44 ¥1,017
68.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$32.13 ¥5,076
37.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$5.11 ¥807
130.14%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$3.01 ¥475
22.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$1.24 ¥197
8.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$0.76 ¥120
7.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$2.60 ¥411
17.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$3.09 ¥489
59.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.53 ¥242
-3.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$1.61 ¥254
37.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$4.16 ¥658
-64.42%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$2.08 ¥329
19.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$10.51 ¥1,660
-28.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$6.69 ¥1,057
18.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$16.72 ¥2,642
-24.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$3.81 ¥601
-27.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$2.26 ¥357
-36.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$2.93 ¥463
-10.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$4.14 ¥654
-48.31%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$2.37 ¥375
-14.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$2.53 ¥400
-21.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$1.23 ¥194
-7.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$0.81 ¥127
48.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$3.85 ¥608
10.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$6.56 ¥1,037
52.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$1.85 ¥293
-16.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$2.11 ¥333
26.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$1.45 ¥229
-63.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
$53.3 ¥8,427
-48.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$3.20 ¥505
53.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$2.80 ¥442
22.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$18.90 ¥2,986
-71.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.11 ¥175
30.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$21.5K ¥3.4M
-1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$15.3K ¥2.4M
50.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$133 ¥21.0K
-35.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$23.86 ¥3,770
-1.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$31.37 ¥4,956
-9.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$53.0 ¥8,371
17.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$11.75 ¥1,856
-56.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$519 ¥82.0K
-61.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$12.6K ¥2.0M
-68.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$50.3 ¥7,940
-11.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$31.15 ¥4,921
32.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$61.6 ¥9,724
18.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$88.1 ¥13.9K
1.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$528 ¥83.5K
85.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$331 ¥52.3K
12.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$1,094 ¥172.8K
53.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$747 ¥118.0K
46.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$4,154 ¥656.4K
-4.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$1,788 ¥282.5K
243.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.21
418.10%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Ichinomiya: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Ichinomiya
$331 11.2% $42
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Ichinomiya
$290 12.2% $32
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Ichinomiya
$130 35% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Ichinomiya
$188 37.2% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Ichinomiya
$104 6.9% $7.7
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Ichinomiya
$76 5.6% $4.1
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Ichinomiya
$76 47.7% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $528 in Ichinomiya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Ichinomiya. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Playa del Carmen vs $290 in Ichinomiya – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇯🇵 Ichinomiya
🕒 Local time
18:46 6:46 PM
08:46 8:46 AM
14 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
379,728
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Ichinomiya 12,260 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Ichinomiya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,794 in Ichinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ichinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen and $32.00 in Ichinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $1,196 in Ichinomiya. That's a gap of about 1%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,196, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Ichinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ichinomiya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ichinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Ichinomiya?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ichinomiya. 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.

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