😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,242 in Kelcyre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,896 in Kelcyre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,551 in Kelcyre.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 4% more expensive than Kelcyre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Kelcyre7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$11.92ALL 973
0.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$59.6ALL 4,866
-28.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$9.62ALL 785
10.08%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.99ALL 162
81.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.90ALL 155
-22.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.93ALL 75.8
1.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.90ALL 237
6.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$4.20ALL 343
6.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$2.16ALL 176
-33.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.08ALL 88.1
74.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.21ALL 181
-26.24%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.93ALL 321
-32.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$12.94ALL 1,057
-36.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.59ALL 620
9.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$15.91ALL 1,299
-30.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.77ALL 144
49.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.65ALL 217
-43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.03ALL 166
-1.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.90ALL 155
9.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.31ALL 107
36.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.32ALL 107
65.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.46ALL 119
-26.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.74ALL 60.0
40.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$4.13ALL 337
-3.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.28ALL 839
-0.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.60ALL 130
8.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.13ALL 174
17.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.49ALL 39.61
6.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$18.48ALL 1,509
45.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$3.60ALL 294
-12.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$3.09ALL 253
-22.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$17.60ALL 1,437
-82.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$2.08ALL 170
-38.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$40.8KALL 3.3M
-24.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$35.6KALL 2.9M
-34.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$106ALL 8,685
-22.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$17.59ALL 1,437
27.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$18.11ALL 1,478
63.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$54.3ALL 4,431
-4.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$25.21ALL 2,059
-25.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$9.70ALL 792
-48.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$159ALL 13.0K
24.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$5,562ALL 454.1K
-5.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$67.3ALL 5,495
-45.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$51.1ALL 4,171
-21.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$107ALL 8,755
-25.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$130ALL 10.6K
-31.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$447ALL 36.5K
115.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$345ALL 28.2K
34.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$617ALL 50.4K
158.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$436ALL 35.6K
177.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,897ALL 154.9K
107.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,385ALL 113.1K
365.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Kelcyre: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $447 in Kelcyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $60.0 in Kelcyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $278 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $1,862 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: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $447 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 46% 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 $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $159 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 Playa del Carmen or Kelcyre?
At $1,242 in Kelcyre versus $1,287 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 4% 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