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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $205 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $327 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $448 in Kasese, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 530% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Kasese 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

$1.83 UGX 6,911

539.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$788

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.2

$2.70 UGX 10.2K

51.48%

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

$1.37 MX$23.23

$0.41 UGX 1,552

234.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.09

$0.28 UGX 1,060

196.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.7

$0.80 UGX 3,006

318.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.20

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.21

$1.04 UGX 3,928

117.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.91

$0.93 UGX 3,501

90.32%

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.19

$2.88 UGX 10.9K

-5.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

$5.28 UGX 19.9K

68.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

$3.94 UGX 14.9K

219.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.1

$2.74 UGX 10.4K

10.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.28

$0.53 UGX 1,986

326.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.88

$0.53 UGX 1,991

277.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.90

$0.52 UGX 1,952

296.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.35

$0.51 UGX 1,940

135.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$181

$3.91 UGX 14.8K

173.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.70

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.26

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

$22.3K MX$377.4K

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

$25.9K MX$438.7K

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

$89.1 MX$1,507

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

$25.04 MX$423

$13.46 UGX 50.9K

86.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,146

$27.23 UGX 102.9K

148.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$489

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.4

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

$225 MX$3,803

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$802

$13.65 UGX 51.6K

247.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,386

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,557

$18.70 UGX 70.6K

392.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,852

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

$408 UGX 1.5M

879.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kasese: August 29, 2026

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 Kasese: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 530%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $308 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $205 in Kasese. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 186% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kasese, where all-in costs run around $205, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Kasese it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kasese – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kasese. 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.