😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $955 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,494 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,034 in Iernut.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 33% more expensive than in Iernut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Iernut30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$9.07RON 41.56
27.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$44.70RON 205
5.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$7.91RON 36.22
50.19%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$2.32RON 10.62
71.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$1.52RON 6.96
-5.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$1.29RON 5.90
-36.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$2.22RON 10.18
43.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.50RON 11.44
171.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.43RON 6.54
17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$1.12RON 5.15
96.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$1.54RON 7.05
11.04%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$2.98RON 13.65
-8.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$8.23RON 37.71
16.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.28RON 28.79
43.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$10.69RON 48.99
19.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.05RON 4.79
175.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.40RON 6.42
7.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.52RON 6.96
41.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.99RON 9.10
13.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.80RON 3.68
147.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.57RON 2.63
249.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.85RON 3.90
44.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.79RON 3.61
51.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$6.03RON 27.62
-24.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.92RON 36.27
30.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.14RON 5.21
42.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.64RON 7.51
75.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.74RON 3.38
-18.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$22.91RON 105
25.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$0.71RON 3.26
659.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.71RON 3.26
425.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$6.91RON 31.67
-16.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.87RON 8.58
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$30.1KRON 137.7K
-24.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$26.9KRON 123.3K
-3.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$105RON 481
-13.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$7.98RON 36.56
215.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$8.80RON 40.32
255.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$39.62RON 182
69.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
$21.22RON 97.2
37.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$6.73RON 30.84
-27.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$443RON 2,031
-49.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$7,237RON 33.2K
-41.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$55.2RON 253
-14.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$31.41RON 144
41.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$80.7RON 370
-0.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$80.7RON 370
14.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$399RON 1,826
166.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$306RON 1,402
27.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$631RON 2,891
240.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$462RON 2,115
175.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$1,880RON 8,611
112.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$1,401RON 6,419
364.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.2
59.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Iernut: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $399 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $45.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $203 per month, with Iernut 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 Iernut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iernut cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Iernut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $1,432 in Iernut 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Iernut?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $399 in Iernut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Iernut?
Dining out is cheaper in Iernut – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Iernut?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $955 in Iernut – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Iernut?
At $955 in Iernut versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iernut but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Iernut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Iernut more family-friendly?
For families, Iernut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Iernut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% 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