Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,168 in Kefar Sava.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,276 in Kefar Sava.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,383 in Kefar Sava.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 41% less than in Kefar Sava, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Kefar Sava is 61% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$22.41 ₪65.4
-47.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$62.1 ₪181
-30.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$15.87 ₪46.27
-32.89%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$3.88 ₪11.33
-11.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.42 ₪7.06
-38.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$2.16 ₪6.31
-56.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$9.19 ₪26.79
-67.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$7.62 ₪22.21
-39.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.67 ₪4.86
-17.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$1.80 ₪5.24
2.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$2.50 ₪7.28
-35.60%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$3.81 ₪11.11
-32.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$9.26 ₪26.99
-10.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$9.59 ₪27.97
-12.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$14.61 ₪42.59
-27.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$3.12 ₪9.09
-15.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$2.43 ₪7.08
-38.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$2.06 ₪5.99
-6.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$1.97 ₪5.73
6.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$1.30 ₪3.80
43.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.54 ₪4.48
46.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$1.87 ₪5.47
-43.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.91 ₪2.65
19.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$10.36 ₪30.21
-59.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$15.73 ₪45.86
-33.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$2.59 ₪7.55
-33.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$3.02 ₪8.81
-13.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$1.65 ₪4.83
-67.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$45.98 ₪134
-41.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$3.82 ₪11.13
-18.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$0.86 ₪2.52
191.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$32.01 ₪93.3
-90.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$2.05 ₪5.99
-38.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$39.8K ₪116.0K
-23.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$42.5K ₪123.9K
-44.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$322 ₪940
-74.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$12.00 ₪35.00
89.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$29.29 ₪85.4
0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$65.9 ₪192
-22.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$24.36 ₪71.0
-24.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$12.59 ₪36.71
-60.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$1,027 ₪2,993
-80.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$12.0K ₪35.1K
-56.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$56.7 ₪165
-34.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$48.49 ₪141
-17.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$130 ₪378
-38.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$90.9 ₪265
-1.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$937 ₪2,733
2.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$822 ₪2,397
-41.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,830 ₪5,336
-10.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$1,595 ₪4,652
-23.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$8,650 ₪25.2K
-54.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$7,015 ₪20.5K
-7.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kefar Sava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.5
75.69%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kefar Sava: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $937 in Kefar Sava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $62.0 in Kefar Sava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $303 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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 Kefar Sava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava?
Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $2,168 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Kefar Sava?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $3,253 in Kefar Sava to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $937 in Kefar Sava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Kefar Sava?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,168 in Kefar Sava – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 71% less than in Kefar Sava. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,168 in Kefar Sava, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kefar Sava. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kefar Sava safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kefar Sava are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Kefar Sava?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Kefar Sava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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