😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $306 in Kaduna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $541 in Kaduna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $776 in Kaduna, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 314% more than Kaduna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kaduna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Kaduna78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$1.10₦1,461
954.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$18.75₦24.9K
151.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$1.85₦2,452
542.16%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$3.28₦4,364
21.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$0.21₦275
580.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.07₦96.7
1071.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$0.47₦628
578.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$0.78₦1,042
770.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.50₦1,990
12.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.46₦609
378.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$0.69₦920
147.83%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$1.29₦1,712
112.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$0.72₦955
1230.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$5.14₦6,833
75.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$1.86₦2,472
588.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$2.05₦2,719
40.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.11₦1,470
35.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$0.40₦526
437.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$0.57₦764
296.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.71₦948
178.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.77₦1,026
158.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.16₦210
668.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.14₦189
757.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$1.98₦2,625
129.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$1.84₦2,448
463.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.18₦1,572
37.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.78₦2,361
61.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$0.58₦766
829.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.86₦1,146
333.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$1.87₦2,484
208.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$0.55₦732
180.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$25.9K₦34.4M
-12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$18.5K₦24.6M
40.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$7.57₦10.1K
1107.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$3.68₦4,890
584.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$18.53₦24.6K
68.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$4.79₦6,367
1.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$45.95₦61.0K
386.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$3,163₦4.2M
33.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$5.89₦7,829
699.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$11.12₦14.8K
298.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$11.21₦14.9K
614.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$11.22₦14.9K
725.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$130₦172.1K
720.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$86.6₦115.1K
350.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$437₦580.5K
391.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$228₦302.6K
458.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kaduna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
22.5
-49.11%
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 Kaduna: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $130 in Kaduna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Kaduna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $101 – making Kaduna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kaduna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kaduna?
Playa del Carmen costs about 314% more than Kaduna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Kaduna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $459 in Kaduna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kaduna?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kaduna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kaduna?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $19.00 in Kaduna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Kaduna?
Groceries cost about 172% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kaduna?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kaduna, where all-in costs run around $306, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Kaduna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kaduna?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kaduna costs $306 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Kaduna?
If budget matters most, go with Kaduna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared