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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,241 in Kelcyre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,904 in Kelcyre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,567 in Kelcyre.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 2% more expensive than in Kelcyre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Kelcyre 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$10.14 ALL 804
14.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$811
$55.5 ALL 4,401
-15.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$11.33 ALL 898
4.85%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.5
$2.45 ALL 194
62.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.57
$2.49 ALL 197
-42.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.20
$1.33 ALL 105
-38.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.9
$3.67 ALL 291
-13.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$4.11 ALL 326
65.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.85
$2.25 ALL 179
-25.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.83
$1.22 ALL 96.4
80.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.41
$2.41 ALL 191
-29.05%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.20
$3.77 ALL 299
-27.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$13.44 ALL 1,065
-28.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$9.40 ALL 745
-4.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$17.34 ALL 1,374
-26.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.74
$2.02 ALL 160
43.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.78
$2.59 ALL 206
-42.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.98
$2.24 ALL 178
-4.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.91
$1.96 ALL 156
15.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.10
$1.04 ALL 82.1
90.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.26
$1.30 ALL 103
53.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.25
$1.49 ALL 118
-17.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.60
$0.77 ALL 61.2
55.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.3
$4.78 ALL 379
-4.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$11.37 ALL 901
-8.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.88
$1.82 ALL 144
-10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.60
$2.13 ALL 169
35.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.34
$0.45 ALL 35.85
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$496
$18.56 ALL 1,471
55.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.8
$3.68 ALL 292
46.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.2
$3.68 ALL 291
1.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.3
$18.76 ALL 1,487
-69.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.45
$2.29 ALL 182
-32.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.3K
$34.5K ALL 2.7M
-34.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$448.7K
$35.9K ALL 2.8M
-27.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,573
$102 ALL 8,068
-10.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$434
$19.24 ALL 1,525
30.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$538
$21.17 ALL 1,678
47.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,157
$56.1 ALL 4,445
19.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.7
$10.03 ALL 795
-51.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,851
$349 ALL 27.6K
-35.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.8K
$8,405 ALL 666.1K
-49.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$811
$50.3 ALL 3,987
-6.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$763
$47.43 ALL 3,759
-6.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,379
$123 ALL 9,739
-34.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,596
$117 ALL 9,280
-20.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$547 ALL 43.3K
94.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,719
$365 ALL 28.9K
6.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.0K
$711 ALL 56.3K
202.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$411 ALL 32.6K
209.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.9K
$2,016 ALL 159.8K
98.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.0K
$1,200 ALL 95.1K
441.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.64
103.01%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kelcyre: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $547 in Kelcyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $56.0 in Kelcyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $300 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 Kelcyre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelcyre cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Kelcyre is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $1,861 in Kelcyre 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Kelcyre?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $547 in Kelcyre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kelcyre runs roughly 55% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $349 in Kelcyre. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Kelcyre?
At $1,241 in Kelcyre versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kelcyre but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kelcyre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kelcyre more family-friendly?
For families, Kelcyre 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 Kelcyre?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kelcyre 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 Kelcyre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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