😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,236 in Kelcyre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,879 in Kelcyre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,523 in Kelcyre.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 3% more expensive than 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
$11.87MX$204
$11.92ALL 974
-0.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$59.4ALL 4,852
-27.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$9.59ALL 784
11.05%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.96ALL 160
76.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.91ALL 156
-21.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.94ALL 76.4
1.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.91ALL 238
4.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$4.17ALL 341
10.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$2.05ALL 167
-32.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.12ALL 91.8
65.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$2.22ALL 181
-27.48%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$4.01ALL 328
-35.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$13.11ALL 1,071
-36.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$7.73ALL 632
8.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$15.43ALL 1,260
-30.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.70ALL 139
54.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.78ALL 227
-46.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.02ALL 165
-4.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.91ALL 156
9.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.32ALL 107
40.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.33ALL 109
69.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.49ALL 122
-28.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.74ALL 60.8
47.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$4.20ALL 343
-1.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$11.04ALL 902
-5.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.63ALL 133
5.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.06ALL 168
26.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.46ALL 37.55
17.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$18.97ALL 1,550
42.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$3.54ALL 290
-11.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$3.19ALL 261
-21.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$17.77ALL 1,452
-82.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$2.05ALL 168
-38.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$39.8KALL 3.3M
-23.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$36.3KALL 3.0M
-35.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$108ALL 8,829
-23.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$17.92ALL 1,464
26.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$18.47ALL 1,509
59.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$54.2ALL 4,430
-5.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$25.01ALL 2,044
-26.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$9.26ALL 757
-46.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$158ALL 12.9K
25.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$5,528ALL 451.6K
-4.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$68.9ALL 5,626
-46.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$51.2ALL 4,186
-22.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$107ALL 8,704
-24.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$130ALL 10.7K
-31.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$456ALL 37.3K
109.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$338ALL 27.6K
41.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$600ALL 49.0K
174.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$427ALL 34.9K
187.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,911ALL 156.1K
105.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,274ALL 104.0K
407.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kelcyre: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $456 in Kelcyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $59.0 in Kelcyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $280 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 $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $1,853 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: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $456 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 42% 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 $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $158 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 $1,236 in Kelcyre versus $1,271 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