Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kamiyama

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Kamiyama: $1,204 and $1,235 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Kamiyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,235
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Kamiyama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Kamiyama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,235 in Kamiyama, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Kamiyama $1,235

A couple spends around $2,102 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,928 in Kamiyama, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Kamiyama $1,928

A family of three spends $3,000 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,621 in Kamiyama, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Kamiyama $2,621

Playa del Carmen is about 2% cheaper than Kamiyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kamiyama are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Kamiyama 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$6.73 ¥1,063
61.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$34.01 ¥5,372
29.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$5.49 ¥868
114.21%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$3.09 ¥487
19.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$1.14 ¥180
17.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$0.76 ¥120
7.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$2.13 ¥336
43.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$3.21 ¥507
53.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.52 ¥241
-3.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$1.58 ¥250
40.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$4.89 ¥772
-69.73%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$2.29 ¥362
8.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$10.03 ¥1,584
-25.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$6.43 ¥1,016
23.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$15.27 ¥2,412
-17.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$5.46 ¥863
-49.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$2.65 ¥419
-46.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$3.95 ¥624
-33.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$4.61 ¥728
-53.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$3.21 ¥507
-37.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$2.56 ¥404
-22.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$1.33 ¥210
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$0.83 ¥132
44.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$4.27 ¥674
-0.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$6.40 ¥1,011
56.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$1.90 ¥300
-18.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$2.39 ¥377
11.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$1.59 ¥252
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
$56.1 ¥8,865
-50.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$3.45 ¥545
42.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$3.01 ¥475
13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$20.71 ¥3,271
-74.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.19 ¥189
21.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$23.1K ¥3.6M
-8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$17.0K ¥2.7M
35.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$139 ¥21.9K
-38.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$27.16 ¥4,291
-13.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$33.67 ¥5,319
-15.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$57.2 ¥9,033
8.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
$14.14 ¥2,234
102.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$13.05 ¥2,061
-60.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$282 ¥44.6K
-28.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$13.1K ¥2.1M
-69.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$43.36 ¥6,850
2.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$29.72 ¥4,695
39.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$60.5 ¥9,557
20.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$90.7 ¥14.3K
-1.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$463 ¥73.2K
111.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$332 ¥52.4K
12.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$879 ¥138.8K
91.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$670 ¥105.9K
63.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$2,777 ¥438.8K
42.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$1,786 ¥282.2K
243.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kamiyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
1.81
532.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Kamiyama: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Kamiyama
$332 11.1% $41
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Kamiyama
$307 18.8% $49
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Kamiyama
$132 34.1% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Kamiyama
$199 45.2% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Kamiyama
$101 9.6% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Kamiyama
$83 15% $11
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Kamiyama
$81 56.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $463 in Kamiyama. 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 $44.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Kamiyama. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Playa del Carmen vs $307 in Kamiyama – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇯🇵 Kamiyama
🕒 Local time
22:17 10:17 PM
12:17 12:17 PM
14 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
5,300
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Kamiyama 12,530 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Kamiyama

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kamiyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kamiyama cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Kamiyama is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,853 in Kamiyama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kamiyama?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Kamiyama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Kamiyama?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen and $34.00 in Kamiyama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Kamiyama?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Kamiyama at $1,235. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kamiyama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kamiyama more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kamiyama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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