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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,046 in Iernut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,546 in Iernut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,046 in Iernut.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 22% more expensive than Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Iernut 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$8.48 RON 38.37
39.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$40.41 RON 183
6.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$8.16 RON 36.89
30.51%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$2.27 RON 10.28
51.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.33 RON 6.00
12.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$1.17 RON 5.29
-18.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$2.26 RON 10.23
34.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$2.82 RON 12.77
63.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.46 RON 6.63
-5.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$1.21 RON 5.49
52.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.64 RON 7.42
-1.83%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$2.91 RON 13.18
-11.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$8.88 RON 40.17
-6.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$6.88 RON 31.11
21.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$12.03 RON 54.4
-11.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$0.97 RON 4.40
171.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$1.38 RON 6.22
7.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$1.54 RON 6.97
24.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$1.98 RON 8.96
5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$0.91 RON 4.10
104.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$0.87 RON 3.92
159.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$0.80 RON 3.61
32.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.74 RON 3.36
47.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$5.77 RON 26.10
-28.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$7.59 RON 34.35
36.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.08 RON 4.87
59.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$1.68 RON 7.61
55.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$0.71 RON 3.23
-23.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$19.69 RON 89.1
36.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$0.72 RON 3.25
334.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$0.80 RON 3.61
213.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$6.72 RON 30.39
-53.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.54 RON 6.98
-17.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$27.5K RON 124.4K
10.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$27.5K RON 124.5K
-14.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$166 RON 750
-49.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$8.33 RON 37.68
172.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$9.24 RON 41.81
218.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$41.42 RON 187
23.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$19.21 RON 86.9
-4.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$5.80 RON 26.23
-15.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$451 RON 2,038
-56.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$6,633 RON 30.0K
-20.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$66.0 RON 298
-44.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$32.19 RON 146
23.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$72.2 RON 327
10.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$80.3 RON 363
11.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$393 RON 1,777
143.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$286 RON 1,292
67.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$587 RON 2,654
180.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$441 RON 1,994
177.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$1,850 RON 8,368
111.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$1,192 RON 5,392
441.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Iernut: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 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 $40.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $212 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $1,568 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: $956 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 $40.00 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,046 in Iernut – a 22% 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 $1,046 in Iernut versus $1,271 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 22% 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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