🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,555 in Independence, KS.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,748 in Independence, KS.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,940 in Independence, KS.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 50% less than in Independence, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Independence, KS is 91% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$18.92$18.92
-36.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$73.8$73.8
-42.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.99$10.99
-3.64%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$5.07$5.07
-28.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.56$2.56
-42.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$2.01$2.01
-53.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$6.11$6.11
-49.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$6.98$6.98
-36.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.01$1.01
41.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$3.55$3.55
-47.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$4.46$4.46
-63.45%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$4.16$4.16
-36.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$12.23$12.23
-32.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$11.33$11.33
-26.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$15.18$15.18
-26.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$5.01$5.01
-47.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.57$1.57
-4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$4.37$4.37
-54.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$4.78$4.78
-56.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.81$2.81
-36.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.91$2.91
-25.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.11$2.11
-48.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$2.20$2.20
-52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$9.73$9.73
-59.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$15.16$15.16
-32.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.78$1.78
-2.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.28$3.28
-23.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.95$1.95
-73.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$3.60$3.60
-12.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.61$1.61
49.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$29.53$29.53
-89.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.91$0.91
39.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$29.9K$29.9K
3.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$25.5K$25.5K
-8.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$189$189
-56.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$53.3$53.3
-57.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$67.7$67.7
-56.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$43.09$43.09
20.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$13.53$13.53
-63.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$1,298$1,298
-84.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$23.2K$23.2K
-77.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$51.8$51.8
-29.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$40.47$40.47
-1.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$88.3$88.3
-9.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$113$113
-21.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$1,591$1,591
-39.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$1,332$1,332
-65.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$2,656$2,656
-39.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$2,236$2,236
-45.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,677$2,677
47.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$2,331$2,331
176.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Independence, KS
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$5,352$5,352
-86.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Independence, KS: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,591 in Independence, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Independence, KS pays 643% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $74.0 in Independence, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $390 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Independence, KS: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Independence, KS?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Independence, KS. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Independence, KS?
On paper, Independence, KS earns 643% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Independence, KS?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,591 in Independence, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Independence, KS?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,298 in Independence, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Independence, KS?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $74.0 in Independence, KS. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Independence, KS?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,555 in Independence, KS, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Independence, KS. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Independence, KS?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Independence, KS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado