Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kansas City, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kansas City, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,738 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,028 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,318 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 54% cheaper than Kansas City, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Kansas City, KS is 105% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$19.74 $19.74
-39.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$65.3 $65.3
-35.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$12.15 $12.15
-11.52%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$4.99 $4.99
-29.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$2.31 $2.31
-37.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$1.85 $1.85
-52.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$5.11 $5.11
-42.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$6.94 $6.94
-35.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.96 $0.96
48.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$3.44 $3.44
-46.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$4.89 $4.89
-67.89%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$4.60 $4.60
-45.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$10.76 $10.76
-23.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$10.99 $10.99
-23.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$12.74 $12.74
-16.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$5.39 $5.39
-51.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$2.00 $2.00
-28.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$6.66 $6.66
-70.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$5.80 $5.80
-63.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$4.35 $4.35
-57.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$3.72 $3.72
-41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$2.29 $2.29
-55.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$2.25 $2.25
-52.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$9.86 $9.86
-58.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$17.16 $17.16
-40.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$1.73 $1.73
-2.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$5.28 $5.28
-52.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$1.48 $1.48
-65.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$54.7 $54.7
-52.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$4.89 $4.89
-33.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$1.56 $1.56
54.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$41.08 $41.08
-92.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$0.83 $0.83
59.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$30.7K $30.7K
-3.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$26.0K $26.0K
-9.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$189 $189
-56.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$53.2 $53.2
-56.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$53.0 $53.0
-43.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$115 $115
-54.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$64.8 $64.8
-71.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$15.13 $15.13
-67.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$1,089 $1,089
-81.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$29.3K $29.3K
-81.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$49.36 $49.36
-27.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$35.52 $35.52
13.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$89.6 $89.6
-12.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$128 $128
-30.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$1,373 $1,373
-31.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$1,304 $1,304
-63.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$3,365 $3,365
-51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$2,157 $2,157
-43.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$2,190 $2,190
85.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$2,190 $2,190
195.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kansas City, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$3,145 $3,145
-79.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.54
74.62%

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 Kansas City, KS: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,373 in Kansas City, KS. 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 381% higher in Kansas City, KS, 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 $65.0 in Kansas City, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $412 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Kansas City, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kansas City, KS?
Kansas City, KS costs about 118% more than Playa del Carmen, 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 Kansas City, KS?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,108 in Kansas City, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kansas City, KS?
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 childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kansas City, KS?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,089 in Kansas City, KS. 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 Kansas City, KS?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Kansas City, KS, 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 $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kansas City, KS?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Kansas City, KS at $2,738. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kansas City, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kansas City, KS?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $2,738 in Kansas City, KS. 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 Kansas City, KS?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kansas City, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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