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: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,318 in Jonava.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,090 in Jonava.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,862 in Jonava.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 2% less than in Jonava, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Jonava 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$202
$10.22 €8.80
14.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$719
$68.8 €59.2
-39.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$179
$6.95 €5.99
49.78%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.1
$3.07 €2.64
17.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.06
$1.18 €1.02
23.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.70
$1.94 €1.67
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.3
$5.93 €5.11
-50.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$79.5
$5.40 €4.65
-14.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.59
$1.33 €1.14
7.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.70
$1.84 €1.58
3.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.95
$2.07 €1.78
-24.15%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.34
$3.07 €2.64
-14.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$145
$10.74 €9.25
-21.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$148
$5.23 €4.50
64.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$189
$9.92 €8.54
10.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.51
$1.36 €1.17
98.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$25.92
$1.67 €1.44
-9.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$32.93
$1.78 €1.53
7.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.37
$3.03 €2.61
-28.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.25
$0.77 €0.66
142.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.43
$0.94 €0.81
137.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$1.53 €1.32
-29.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.47
$0.83 €0.71
28.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$71.6
$5.41 €4.66
-23.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$177
$8.69 €7.48
18.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.95
$1.66 €1.43
1.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.59
$1.73 €1.49
46.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.53
$1.18 €1.02
-53.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$452
$33.13 €28.53
-20.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.0
$4.74 €4.08
-32.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.37
$1.12 €0.97
119.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.0
$13.98 €12.04
-77.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.72
$1.65 €1.42
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$518.8K
$39.0K €33.6K
-22.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$402.5K
$28.7K €24.7K
-18.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,400
$213 €183
-61.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$386
$13.90 €11.97
61.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$516
$11.60 €9.99
158.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$887
$42.74 €36.80
20.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$316
$22.92 €19.73
-19.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$88.9
$9.14 €7.87
-43.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,471
$465 €400
-56.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$91.4K
$10.2K €8,813
-48.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$613
$138 €118
-74.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$695
$43.42 €37.39
-7.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,353
$84.8 €73.1
-7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,495
$188 €162
-53.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.3K
$522 €450
81.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,227
$361 €310
32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$27.9K
$841 €724
92.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.0K
$659 €568
85.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.0K
$3,089 €2,660
29.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$111.4K
$1,783 €1,536
262.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Jonava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.6K
$1,330 €1,145
-49.41%
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Jonava: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $522 in Jonava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonava pays 98% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Jonava. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $229, 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 2% 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 98% 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: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $522 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 26% 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 $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $465 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 $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,318 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 2% less than in Jonava. 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

Similar cities