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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $345 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $474 in Kasese, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 499% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Kasese 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$1.97 UGX 7,400

495.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$2.81 UGX 10.6K

25.27%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.41 UGX 1,529

268.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.27 UGX 1,012

259.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$0.80 UGX 2,990

268.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.14 UGX 4,291

65.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$0.98 UGX 3,703

67.35%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$2.99 UGX 11.2K

-16.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$5.44 UGX 20.5K

53.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$4.24 UGX 16.0K

153.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

-8.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$0.58 UGX 2,182

258.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$0.54 UGX 2,019

229.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$0.55 UGX 2,052

298.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.54 UGX 2,029

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

152.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$22.22 MX$384

$13.95 UGX 52.5K

59.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$28.04 UGX 105.4K

84.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$13.73 UGX 51.6K

168.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$19.65 UGX 73.9K

343.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$405 UGX 1.5M

873.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kasese: May 30, 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 499%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $325 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $217 in Kasese. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 $217, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.