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: $1,266 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 Carmen 7% lower, Iernut 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$9.07 RON 41.56
27.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$811
$44.70 RON 205
5.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$7.91 RON 36.22
50.19%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.5
$2.32 RON 10.62
71.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.57
$1.52 RON 6.96
-5.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.20
$1.29 RON 5.90
-36.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.9
$2.22 RON 10.18
43.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.50 RON 11.44
171.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.85
$1.43 RON 6.54
17.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.83
$1.12 RON 5.15
96.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.41
$1.54 RON 7.05
11.04%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.20
$2.98 RON 13.65
-8.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$8.23 RON 37.71
16.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$6.28 RON 28.79
43.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$10.69 RON 48.99
19.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.74
$1.05 RON 4.79
175.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.78
$1.40 RON 6.42
7.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.98
$1.52 RON 6.96
41.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.91
$1.99 RON 9.10
13.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.10
$0.80 RON 3.68
147.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.26
$0.57 RON 2.63
249.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.25
$0.85 RON 3.90
44.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.60
$0.79 RON 3.61
51.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.3
$6.03 RON 27.62
-24.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$7.92 RON 36.27
30.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.88
$1.14 RON 5.21
42.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.60
$1.64 RON 7.51
75.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.34
$0.74 RON 3.38
-18.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$496
$22.91 RON 105
25.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.8
$0.71 RON 3.26
659.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.2
$0.71 RON 3.26
425.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.3
$6.91 RON 31.67
-16.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.45
$1.87 RON 8.58
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.3K
$30.1K RON 137.7K
-24.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$448.7K
$26.9K RON 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)
$91.4 MX$1,573
$105 RON 481
-13.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$434
$7.98 RON 36.56
215.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$538
$8.80 RON 40.32
255.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,157
$39.62 RON 182
69.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$501
$21.22 RON 97.2
37.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.7
$6.73 RON 30.84
-27.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,851
$443 RON 2,031
-49.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.8K
$7,237 RON 33.2K
-41.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$811
$55.2 RON 253
-14.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$763
$31.41 RON 144
41.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,379
$80.7 RON 370
-0.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,596
$80.7 RON 370
14.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$399 RON 1,826
166.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,719
$306 RON 1,402
27.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.0K
$631 RON 2,891
240.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$462 RON 2,115
175.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.9K
$1,880 RON 8,611
112.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.0K
$1,401 RON 6,419
364.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$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.

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