😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,226 in Kelcyre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,859 in Kelcyre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,491 in Kelcyre.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 3% more expensive than in Kelcyre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kelcyre8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$11.89ALL 966
-1.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$58.1ALL 4,720
-27.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$9.39ALL 763
11.93%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.06ALL 168
74.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.84ALL 150
-17.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.98ALL 79.5
-6.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.92ALL 237
1.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$4.22ALL 343
4.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$2.12ALL 172
-33.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.09ALL 88.9
72.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$2.16ALL 176
-27.78%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$3.94ALL 320
-33.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$13.31ALL 1,081
-37.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$7.89ALL 641
5.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$15.84ALL 1,287
-31.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.71ALL 139
58.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.67ALL 217
-43.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.03ALL 165
-7.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.99ALL 162
10.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.30ALL 106
43.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.32ALL 107
68.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.51ALL 123
-29.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.78ALL 63.4
39.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.14ALL 336
1.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$11.05ALL 898
-5.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.63ALL 133
1.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.10ALL 170
24.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.48ALL 39.11
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$19.12ALL 1,554
36.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$3.50ALL 284
-12.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$3.08ALL 250
-22.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$17.78ALL 1,444
-82.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$2.07ALL 169
-36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$40.8KALL 3.3M
-26.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$35.9KALL 2.9M
-35.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$105ALL 8,550
-22.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$17.85ALL 1,450
26.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$18.37ALL 1,493
63.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$55.5ALL 4,511
-4.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$24.90ALL 2,023
-26.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$9.19ALL 747
-46.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$157ALL 12.8K
27.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$5,589ALL 454.1K
-7.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$69.4ALL 5,638
-48.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$51.3ALL 4,166
-21.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$105ALL 8,566
-24.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$129ALL 10.5K
-33.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$444ALL 36.0K
120.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$345ALL 28.0K
36.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$613ALL 49.8K
169.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$427ALL 34.7K
181.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,073ALL 168.4K
90.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,145ALL 93.0K
477.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.52
106.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kelcyre: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $444 in Kelcyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $58.0 in Kelcyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $282 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $1,840 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $444 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 37% 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $157 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 $1,226 in Kelcyre versus $1,260 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 3% 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