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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,333 in Jonava.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,091 in Jonava.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,848 in Jonava.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 3% less than in Jonava, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Jonava is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$10.49 €8.98
13.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$68.6 €58.7
-37.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$6.97 €5.97
51.94%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$3.04 €2.61
19.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$1.18 €1.01
24.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$2.02 €1.73
-53.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$5.63 €4.82
-45.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$5.57 €4.77
-19.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.36 €1.16
5.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.82 €1.56
3.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$2.01 €1.72
-18.91%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$2.92 €2.50
-9.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$10.64 €9.11
-22.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$5.35 €4.58
54.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$10.01 €8.57
10.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.37 €1.18
93.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.68 €1.44
-10.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.76 €1.51
13.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$3.20 €2.74
-35.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.81 €0.69
120.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.92 €0.79
136.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.56 €1.34
-30.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.85 €0.73
22.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$5.59 €4.78
-28.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$8.62 €7.38
18.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.75 €1.50
-1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.73 €1.48
44.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$1.18 €1.01
-55.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$33.40 €28.59
-19.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$4.61 €3.94
-31.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.17 €1.00
105.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$13.54 €11.59
-77.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.60 €1.37
-20.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$39.0K €33.4K
-20.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$29.1K €24.9K
-19.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$209 €179
-60.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$13.97 €11.96
60.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$11.51 €9.85
157.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$42.13 €36.06
23.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$22.95 €19.65
-18.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$9.06 €7.76
-45.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$460 €394
-57.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$10.5K €9,016
-49.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$141 €121
-74.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$43.11 €36.90
-7.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$82.6 €70.7
-3.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$187 €160
-52.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$525 €450
83.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$356 €305
30.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$824 €705
93.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$649 €555
86.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$2,673 €2,288
47.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$1,566 €1,341
311.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$1,327 €1,136
-45.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.13
176.51%

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 Jonava: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $525 in Jonava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonava pays 84% 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 $69.0 in Jonava. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $230, with Jonava cheaper for home cooking.

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 Jonava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jonava cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Jonava?
On paper, Jonava earns 84% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Jonava?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $525 in Jonava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 24% less than in Jonava. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $460 in Jonava. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Jonava?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,333 in Jonava, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Jonava. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Jonava more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jonava, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Jonava?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Jonava are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Jonava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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