Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $106 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $186 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $266 in Kano.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1137% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Kano 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$1.72 ₦2,281

595.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$14.75 ₦19.5K

221.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$6.17 ₦8,174

90.44%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$23.74

$0.20 ₦267

600.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$0.15 ₦205

506.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

$0.31 ₦411

935.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$0.31 ₦416

2180.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$0.65 ₦861

230.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$0.54 ₦716

227.78%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$0.87 ₦1,148

224.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$0.58 ₦774

108.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

$0.31 ₦416

793.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.29 ₦387

106.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$12.38 ₦16.4K

139.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.52 ₦687

196.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K MX$386.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K MX$437.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$90.7 MX$1,538

$7.39 ₦9,798

1126.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.19 MX$427

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$6.41 ₦8,498

395.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$20.66 ₦27.4K

232.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kano: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $15.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $20.00 per month, with Kano cheaper across the board.

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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Kano differ by about 1137% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $106 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $158 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 140% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $106 in Kano versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1137% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.