😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,010 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,513 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,016 in Iernut.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 27% more expensive than Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Iernut25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$8.84RON 38.52
35.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$40.52RON 177
5.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.98RON 34.78
32.71%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.32RON 10.10
56.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.26RON 5.47
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.16RON 5.07
-18.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.35RON 10.22
31.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.73RON 11.89
63.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.53RON 6.68
-6.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.18RON 5.13
59.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.63RON 7.09
-
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.07RON 13.37
-14.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.57RON 37.36
-4.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.21RON 31.42
14.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$12.18RON 53.1
-8.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$0.97RON 4.24
173.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.31RON 5.73
14.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.53RON 6.68
30.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.01RON 8.77
3.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.88RON 3.85
103.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.87RON 3.79
150.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.79RON 3.44
36.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.74RON 3.21
40.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$6.04RON 26.33
-34.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$6.78RON 29.55
50.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.03RON 4.49
67.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.63RON 7.10
53.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.66RON 2.86
-21.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$20.15RON 87.9
33.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.75RON 3.27
318.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.76RON 3.33
215.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$6.95RON 30.31
-55.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.56RON 6.79
-18.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$27.9KRON 121.8K
10.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$27.3KRON 119.2K
-14.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$167RON 728
-50.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$7.94RON 34.63
182.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$9.04RON 39.43
228.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$41.89RON 183
23.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$19.51RON 85.1
-4.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.75RON 25.06
-13.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$449RON 1,957
-55.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$6,618RON 28.9K
-20.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$67.8RON 296
-46.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$32.42RON 141
23.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$74.3RON 324
7.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$81.6RON 356
8.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$393RON 1,714
145.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$292RON 1,271
59.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$576RON 2,513
176.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$430RON 1,874
181.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,860RON 8,109
111.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,397RON 6,089
361.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.7
48.31%
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 Iernut: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $393 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $41.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $211 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $1,515 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: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $393 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 Iernut?
Dining out is cheaper in Iernut – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $43.00 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 vs Iernut?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,010 in Iernut – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Iernut?
At $1,010 in Iernut versus $1,287 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 27% 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