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: $1,287 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 Carmen 4% lower, Iernut 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$8.84 RON 38.52
35.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$40.52 RON 177
5.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$7.98 RON 34.78
32.71%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.32 RON 10.10
56.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$1.26 RON 5.47
16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$1.16 RON 5.07
-18.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$2.35 RON 10.22
31.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.73 RON 11.89
63.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.53 RON 6.68
-6.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.18 RON 5.13
59.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.63 RON 7.09
-
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$3.07 RON 13.37
-14.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$8.57 RON 37.36
-4.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$7.21 RON 31.42
14.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$12.18 RON 53.1
-8.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$0.97 RON 4.24
173.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.31 RON 5.73
14.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.53 RON 6.68
30.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.01 RON 8.77
3.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.88 RON 3.85
103.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.87 RON 3.79
150.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.79 RON 3.44
36.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.74 RON 3.21
40.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$6.04 RON 26.33
-34.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$6.78 RON 29.55
50.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.03 RON 4.49
67.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.63 RON 7.10
53.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.66 RON 2.86
-21.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$20.15 RON 87.9
33.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.75 RON 3.27
318.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.76 RON 3.33
215.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$6.95 RON 30.31
-55.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.56 RON 6.79
-18.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$27.9K RON 121.8K
10.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$27.3K RON 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)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$167 RON 728
-50.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$7.94 RON 34.63
182.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$9.04 RON 39.43
228.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$41.89 RON 183
23.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$19.51 RON 85.1
-4.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$5.75 RON 25.06
-13.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$449 RON 1,957
-55.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$6,618 RON 28.9K
-20.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$67.8 RON 296
-46.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$32.42 RON 141
23.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$74.3 RON 324
7.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$81.6 RON 356
8.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$393 RON 1,714
145.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$292 RON 1,271
59.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$576 RON 2,513
176.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$430 RON 1,874
181.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$1,860 RON 8,109
111.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$1,397 RON 6,089
361.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$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.

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