😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $360 in Kakinada, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $578 in Kakinada, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $796 in Kakinada, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 249% more than Kakinada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kakinada are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Kakinada73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$1.71₹165
601.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$11.57₹1,114
261.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$4.26₹410
152.35%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$3.72₹358
-5.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$0.49₹47.12
195.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$0.17₹16.71
417.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$1.42₹137
107.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$2.29₹220
96.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$0.66₹63.4
116.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$0.52₹49.68
253.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$0.59₹57.2
166.10%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$0.81₹77.5
209.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$4.43₹427
86.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$2.86₹275
194.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$2.16₹208
20.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$0.81₹77.9
77.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$0.94₹90.7
108.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$0.46₹43.82
354.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$0.40₹38.76
362.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$0.36₹34.53
502.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$0.63₹60.7
63.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.36₹34.89
197.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$3.95₹380
3.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$7.21₹694
41.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$2.52₹242
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$3.29₹316
-23.10%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.40₹423
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$0.34₹32.33
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$8.68₹836
200.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$1.38₹133
134.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$0.23₹22.16
947.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$2.30₹221
40.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$1.24₹119
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$17.5K₹1.7M
69.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$23.4K₹2.3M
1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$27.63₹2,660
196.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$2.67₹257
759.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$5.86₹564
413.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$15.74₹1,515
230.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$7.11₹685
160.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$2.38₹229
109.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$30.93₹2,977
538.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$1,383₹133.1K
285.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$10.44₹1,005
241.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$8.62₹830
367.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$17.28₹1,663
355.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$14.65₹1,410
507.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$79.8₹7,685
1086.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$76.5₹7,361
519.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$188₹18.1K
775.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$179₹17.2K
577.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kakinada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
$524₹50.5K
24.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9
26.89%
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 Kakinada: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $79.8 in Kakinada. 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 25% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.00 in Kakinada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $109 – making Kakinada 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 Kakinada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kakinada?
Playa del Carmen costs about 249% more than Kakinada, 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 Kakinada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $539 in Kakinada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kakinada?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kakinada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kakinada?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $30.93 in Kakinada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Kakinada?
Groceries cost about 128% 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 Kakinada?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kakinada, where all-in costs run around $360, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Kakinada 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 Kakinada?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kakinada costs $360 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 Kakinada?
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 Kakinada?
If budget matters most, go with Kakinada. 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