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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $404 in Kayl.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $405 in Kayl.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $406 in Kayl.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 218% more expensive than Kayl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Kayl 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
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-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
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Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
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-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
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-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
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-
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
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-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
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Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
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Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
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-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
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Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
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Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
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Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
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Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
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Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
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Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
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-
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
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Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
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Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
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Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
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Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
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-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
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-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
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-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
-
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Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
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Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
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Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
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-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$346 €296
-76.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
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-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$57.7 €49.34
-48.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
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-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
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-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
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-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
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Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
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Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
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-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
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3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
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Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kayl
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$9,979 €8,542
-92.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Kayl: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kayl pays 1285% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Kayl: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kayl cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Kayl is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 218% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Kayl?
On paper, Kayl earns 1285% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Kayl?
At $404 in Kayl versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kayl but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kayl the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kayl more family-friendly?
For families, Kayl is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Kayl?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kayl are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kayl gentler on the wallet – expenses run 218% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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