🙂A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,555 in Kastoria, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,271 in Kastoria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,987 in Kastoria, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 17% cheaper than Kastoria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Kastoria is 16% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$13.14€11.30
-10.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$58.0€49.89
-28.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.11€7.83
16.79%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$3.98€3.43
-11.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.62€1.39
-6.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.60€0.52
61.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$4.08€3.51
-27.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$3.51€3.02
26.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.48€1.28
-6.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.57€1.35
20.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$2.21€1.90
-25.79%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$4.16€3.58
-39.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$13.91€11.96
-40.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$9.58€8.24
-12.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$13.17€11.33
-18.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$2.29€1.97
13.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.93€1.66
-24.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.07€0.92
77.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.93€1.66
7.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.08€0.93
64.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.26€1.09
73.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.05€0.90
-0.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.46€0.39
134.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$5.23€4.50
-21.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$11.53€9.92
-10.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.65€1.42
3.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$2.38€2.04
8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.61€1.38
-68.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$46.00€39.57
-42.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$7.28€6.26
-55.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$13.68€11.77
-76.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$2.16€1.85
-39.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$34.4K€29.6K
-11.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$29.4K€25.3K
-20.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$341€294
-75.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$23.67€20.36
-6.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$30.94€26.62
-5.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$47.93€41.23
7.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$26.13€22.48
-29.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$9.96€8.56
-49.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$525€451
-61.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$5,564€4,786
-6.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$114€97.7
-67.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$39.71€34.16
0.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$100€86.1
-21.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$94.6€81.4
-7.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$487€419
99.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$389€334
20.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$773€665
112.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$606€521
101.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,961€2,547
33.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$2,675€2,301
142.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kastoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$649€558
2.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.34
163.13%
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 Kastoria: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $487 in Kastoria. 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 reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $58.0 in Kastoria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $274 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Kastoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kastoria?
Kastoria costs about 20% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Kastoria?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,333 in Kastoria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kastoria?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Kastoria?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Kastoria, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Kastoria?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $58.0 in Kastoria. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Kastoria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Kastoria at $1,555. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kastoria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kastoria?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,555 in Kastoria. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kastoria?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Kastoria?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kastoria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared