😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,041 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,529 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,017 in Iernut.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 21% more expensive than in Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Iernut22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$8.45RON 38.40
38.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$39.69RON 180
5.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$8.23RON 37.40
27.70%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.23RON 10.16
60.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.25RON 5.70
20.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.18RON 5.35
-22.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.27RON 10.31
30.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.70RON 12.28
63.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.49RON 6.79
-6.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.20RON 5.47
56.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.58RON 7.19
-1.27%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.98RON 13.55
-12.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$8.72RON 39.64
-4.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.82RON 31.01
22.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$11.83RON 53.8
-8.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.03RON 4.68
163.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.36RON 6.17
11.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.54RON 7.01
21.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.98RON 9.01
10.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.93RON 4.23
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.88RON 3.98
153.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.74RON 3.36
44.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.75RON 3.41
45.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$6.05RON 27.50
-30.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$7.68RON 34.90
35.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.09RON 4.95
52.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.63RON 7.42
60.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.66RON 2.99
-18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$19.51RON 88.7
34.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.78RON 3.53
294.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.76RON 3.45
215.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$6.93RON 31.52
-54.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.53RON 6.96
-14.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$28.1KRON 127.7K
6.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$27.9KRON 126.9K
-16.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$162RON 736
-49.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$7.90RON 35.90
185.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$9.19RON 41.80
226.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$41.58RON 189
27.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$19.17RON 87.1
-4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$5.71RON 25.97
-13.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$451RON 2,052
-55.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$6,670RON 30.3K
-22.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$68.0RON 309
-47.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$32.73RON 149
22.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$73.9RON 336
7.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$79.9RON 363
8.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$381RON 1,733
156.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$292RON 1,329
60.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$584RON 2,655
182.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$444RON 2,020
170.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,220RON 10.1K
78.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,583RON 7,195
317.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Iernut: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $381 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $40.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $1,562 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $381 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 $40.00 versus $42.00 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,041 in Iernut – a 21% 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 $1,041 in Iernut versus $1,260 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 21% 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