😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $463 in Kericho.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $733 in Kericho.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,004 in Kericho.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 171% more expensive than in Kericho, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Kericho65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$2.35KES 304
410.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$20.67KES 2,671
102.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.64KES 858
61.90%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.44KES 316
43.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.38KES 48.89
281.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.54KES 70.1
62.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.34KES 302
26.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$1.26KES 163
257.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.61KES 78.8
134.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.45KES 58.0
308.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.26KES 163
24.60%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.70KES 219
47.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$11.59KES 1,497
-28.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.87KES 888
22.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$4.27KES 551
150.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$3.14KES 406
-16.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.08KES 139
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.14KES 277
-8.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.05KES 136
99.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.72KES 92.8
156.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.72KES 93.0
201.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.30KES 38.68
243.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.65KES 83.7
64.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$3.18KES 411
28.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$11.67KES 1,508
-12.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.28KES 295
-26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.71KES 351
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$1.52KES 197
112.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.50KES 194
60.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$2.96KES 382
9.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.05KES 136
25.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$21.9KKES 2.8M
35.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$20.3KKES 2.6M
16.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$35.03KES 4,527
134.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$16.97KES 2,193
35.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$39.33KES 5,082
-23.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.13KES 792
-18.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$200KES 25.8K
-1.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$7,960KES 1.0M
-32.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$18.09KES 2,338
96.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$23.75KES 3,069
69.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$66.6KES 8,608
18.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$55.5KES 7,165
60.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
14.84
-23.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kericho: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $21.00 in Kericho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $193 per month, with Kericho 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 Kericho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Kericho?
Playa del Carmen and Kericho differ by about 171% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $463 including rent). Kericho is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Kericho?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $694 in Kericho 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 difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Kericho?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $200 in Kericho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kericho – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $463 in Kericho versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kericho but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kericho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kericho?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Kericho?
Expats usually find Kericho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% 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