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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $346 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $476 in Kasese, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 479% 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 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$1.99 UGX 7,361

502.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

28.68%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.40 UGX 1,482

262.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.29 UGX 1,086

203.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$0.81 UGX 2,987

264.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$1.10 UGX 4,052

67.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.00 UGX 3,712

57.00%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$2.96 UGX 11.0K

-15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$5.41 UGX 20.0K

55.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$4.29 UGX 15.9K

148.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

-4.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$0.58 UGX 2,148

260.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.55 UGX 2,028

236.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$0.57 UGX 2,110

280.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.53 UGX 1,969

101.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$4.05 UGX 15.0K

151.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

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

$22.95 MX$400

$13.78 UGX 51.0K

66.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$27.79 UGX 102.8K

87.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

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

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$14.11 UGX 52.2K

152.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$19.61 UGX 72.5K

353.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$400 UGX 1.5M

913.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kasese: July 11, 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 479%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $326 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 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 147% 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 $1,256. 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.