😐A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $529 in Kashan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $865 in Kashan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,202 in Kashan, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 145% more than Kashan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kashan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Kashan60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$4.05$4.05
189.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$30.25$30.25
38.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$4.48$4.48
132.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.67$0.67
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.05$1.05
-
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$0.87$0.87
314.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$0.42$0.42
247.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$1.01$1.01
-3.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$0.64$0.64
123.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$0.55$0.55
245.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$1.91$1.91
-17.80%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$1.18$1.18
123.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$3.41$3.41
147.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$3.16$3.16
171.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$9.76$9.76
12.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$0.86$0.86
213.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$1.36$1.36
11.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$0.86$0.86
122.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$0.54$0.54
301.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$0.52$0.52
259.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$0.46$0.46
384.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.56$0.56
92.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.23$0.23
365.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.64$0.64
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.50$0.50
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44$1.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$2.18$2.18
90.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$0.17$0.17
223.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$10.10$10.10
160.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$0.34$0.34
841.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$0.29$0.29
748.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$1.99$1.99
60.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$0.73$0.73
80.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$72.0K$72.0K
-58.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$55.6K$55.6K
-57.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$16.06$16.06
406.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$2.02$2.02
1009.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$5.61$5.61
434.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$16.31$16.31
216.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
$12.45$12.45
47.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$1.48$1.48
248.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$116$116
74.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$1,972$1,972
169.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$22.52$22.52
58.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$24.52$24.52
64.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$109$109
-27.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$70.2$70.2
23.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$289$289
228.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$200$200
139.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$635$635
155.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$322$322
279.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$1,218$1,218
229.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$596$596
986.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kashan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$662$662
1.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
22.24
-48.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Kashan: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $289 in Kashan. 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 2% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $30.00 in Kashan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $106 – making Kashan 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 Kashan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kashan cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 145%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $794 in Kashan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kashan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Kashan?
Groceries cost about 140% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Kashan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $30.00 in Kashan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Kashan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kashan, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Kashan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kashan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kashan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Kashan?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kashan. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared