๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,085 in Kaposvรกr.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,612 in Kaposvรกr.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,140 in Kaposvรกr.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 17% more expensive than Kaposvรกr, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kaposvรกr19% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$9.87Ftย 2,987
20.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$33.86Ftย 10.2K
26.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$8.26Ftย 2,499
28.93%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.59Ftย 481
116.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.94Ftย 284
59.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.59Ftย 180
61.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.24Ftย 374
144.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$1.40Ftย 425
229.29%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.08Ftย 328
27.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.15Ftย 349
60.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.66Ftย 501
-3.01%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.94Ftย 889
-11.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$7.13Ftย 2,159
15.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$5.86Ftย 1,774
42.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$10.98Ftย 3,322
-2.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.28Ftย 388
105.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.93Ftย 585
-22.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.01Ftย 607
-4.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.26Ftย 382
65.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.89Ftย 269
108.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.57Ftย 171
296.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.45Ftย 136
135.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.50Ftย 150
118.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.24Ftย 1,889
-33.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.89Ftย 1,783
76.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.06Ftย 321
62.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.20Ftย 362
117.50%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.93Ftย 282
-41.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$25.11Ftย 7,599
7.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.40Ftย 423
123.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.17Ftย 355
114.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$16.99Ftย 5,141
-81.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.75Ftย 529
-27.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$31.3KFtย 9.5M
-3.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$36.2KFtย 11.0M
-34.90%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$149Ftย 44.9K
-44.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$22.79Ftย 6,895
-0.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$24.18Ftย 7,314
21.84%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$46.11Ftย 14.0K
10.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$16.48Ftย 4,985
11.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$7.77Ftย 2,352
-36.55%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$176Ftย 53.1K
12.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$6,762Ftย 2.0M
-21.91%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$89.5Ftย 27.1K
-58.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$25.80Ftย 7,804
54.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$96.4Ftย 29.2K
-16.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$104Ftย 31.6K
-14.37%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$451Ftย 136.4K
112.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$342Ftย 103.4K
39.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$636Ftย 192.5K
158.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$530Ftย 160.4K
131.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$3,298Ftย 997.9K
18.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$2,411Ftย 729.4K
167.93%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kaposvรกr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8
42.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kaposvรกr: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $451 in Kaposvรกr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 in Kaposvรกr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $188 per month, with Kaposvรกr 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 Kaposvรกr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kaposvรกr?
Kaposvรกr wins on cost โ living expenses run 17% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaposvรกr the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Kaposvรกr?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $1,627 in Kaposvรกr 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Kaposvรกr?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $451 in Kaposvรกr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Kaposvรกr?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,085 in Kaposvรกr โ a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Kaposvรกr?
A monthly transit pass in Kaposvรกr runs roughly 7% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Kaposvรกr?
At $1,085 in Kaposvรกr versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kaposvรกr but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kaposvรกr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kaposvรกr?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kaposvรกr delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,085 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kaposvรกr hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kaposvรกr?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kaposvรกr are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kaposvรกr gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 17% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared