😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,188 in Kagoshima, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,903 in Kagoshima, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,618 in Kagoshima, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 6% more than Kagoshima, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kagoshima are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Kagoshima11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$8.29¥1,347
44.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$40.85¥6,637
2.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$5.89¥956
82.51%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$3.05¥495
14.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.08¥176
34.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.80¥131
10.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.63¥265
80.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.09¥340
115.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.34¥217
6.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.26¥204
46.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$4.06¥660
-61.33%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.40¥389
4.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$9.90¥1,609
-16.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.04¥982
39.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$20.85¥3,387
-48.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$3.05¥495
-14.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.36¥220
5.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.41¥229
39.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$5.99¥973
-65.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$2.31¥375
-19.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$2.06¥334
5.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.98¥160
5.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.75¥122
42.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$3.80¥618
7.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$5.87¥954
73.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.28¥207
31.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.10¥341
20.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.49¥242
-65.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$55.6¥9,039
-53.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$4.73¥769
-31.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$2.99¥486
-19.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$12.43¥2,019
-74.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.21¥197
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$22.9K¥3.7M
29.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$19.9K¥3.2M
18.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$211¥34.3K
-61.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$26.94¥4,377
-14.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$36.20¥5,882
-16.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$56.7¥9,208
-8.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$13.74¥2,232
34.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$13.61¥2,212
-63.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$409¥66.5K
-51.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$13.2K¥2.1M
-59.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$42.51¥6,906
-16.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$29.17¥4,740
38.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$67.0¥10.9K
17.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$60.9¥9,890
46.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$474¥77.1K
99.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$238¥38.7K
98.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$852¥138.5K
92.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$660¥107.3K
83.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$4,841¥786.5K
-16.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,213¥359.5K
192.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kagoshima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,826¥296.7K
-64.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
1.67
583.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kagoshima: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $474 in Kagoshima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 179% higher in Kagoshima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $41.00 in Kagoshima. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $279 in Kagoshima – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kagoshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kagoshima?
Playa del Carmen costs about 6% more than Kagoshima, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Kagoshima?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,781 in Kagoshima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kagoshima?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kagoshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Kagoshima?
Public transport costs about 114% less in Kagoshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kagoshima?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $409 in Kagoshima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kagoshima?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kagoshima, where all-in costs run around $1,188, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Kagoshima 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 Kagoshima?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kagoshima costs $1,188 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kagoshima?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Kagoshima?
If budget matters most, go with Kagoshima. 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