😐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 Carmen7% lower, Kelcyre9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$10.14ALL 804
14.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$55.5ALL 4,401
-15.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$11.33ALL 898
4.85%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$2.45ALL 194
62.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$2.49ALL 197
-42.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$1.33ALL 105
-38.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$3.67ALL 291
-13.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$4.11ALL 326
65.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$2.25ALL 179
-25.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$1.22ALL 96.4
80.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$2.41ALL 191
-29.05%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$3.77ALL 299
-27.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$13.44ALL 1,065
-28.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$9.40ALL 745
-4.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$17.34ALL 1,374
-26.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$2.02ALL 160
43.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$2.59ALL 206
-42.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$2.24ALL 178
-4.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.96ALL 156
15.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$1.04ALL 82.1
90.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$1.30ALL 103
53.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$1.49ALL 118
-17.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.77ALL 61.2
55.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$4.78ALL 379
-4.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$11.37ALL 901
-8.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.82ALL 144
-10.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$2.13ALL 169
35.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.45ALL 35.85
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$18.56ALL 1,471
55.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$3.68ALL 292
46.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$3.68ALL 291
1.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$18.76ALL 1,487
-69.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$2.29ALL 182
-32.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$34.5KALL 2.7M
-34.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$35.9KALL 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)
$91.4MX$1,573
$102ALL 8,068
-10.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$19.24ALL 1,525
30.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$21.17ALL 1,678
47.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$56.1ALL 4,445
19.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$10.03ALL 795
-51.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$349ALL 27.6K
-35.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$8,405ALL 666.1K
-49.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$50.3ALL 3,987
-6.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$47.43ALL 3,759
-6.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$123ALL 9,739
-34.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$117ALL 9,280
-20.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$547ALL 43.3K
94.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$365ALL 28.9K
6.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$711ALL 56.3K
202.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$411ALL 32.6K
209.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$2,016ALL 159.8K
98.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$1,200ALL 95.1K
441.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared