Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kericho Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kericho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $458 in Kericho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $733 in Kericho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,009 in Kericho.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 183% more expensive than Kericho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Kericho 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$2.25 KES 292
421.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$21.09 KES 2,730
97.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$6.77 KES 877
57.16%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$2.49 KES 322
41.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$0.40 KES 51.9
277.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.50 KES 65.0
94.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$2.27 KES 294
29.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$1.21 KES 157
267.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$0.64 KES 83.2
115.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$0.47 KES 60.9
302.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.26 KES 163
30.16%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$1.68 KES 218
49.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$11.84 KES 1,532
-29.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$6.92 KES 896
20.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$4.26 KES 552
151.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$3.05 KES 395
-14.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.03 KES 134
41.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.15 KES 278
-11.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$1.00 KES 130
108.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$0.67 KES 87.0
165.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$0.73 KES 94.6
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$0.32 KES 41.85
225.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.59 KES 76.7
83.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$3.08 KES 398
32.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$11.53 KES 1,492
-10.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$2.22 KES 288
-22.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.75 KES 356
-6.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$1.58 KES 205
106.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.55 KES 201
60.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$2.81 KES 364
15.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.02 KES 131
28.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$22.1K KES 2.9M
37.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$20.2K KES 2.6M
16.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$34.90 KES 4,518
137.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$17.05 KES 2,207
30.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$39.62 KES 5,129
-25.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$6.01 KES 778
-15.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$203 KES 26.3K
-1.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$8,072 KES 1.0M
-35.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$18.33 KES 2,372
101.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$23.80 KES 3,081
67.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$66.2 KES 8,573
18.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$57.0 KES 7,381
52.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kericho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kericho: June 1, 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 $192 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 Kericho?
Playa del Carmen and Kericho differ by about 183% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $458 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 $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $687 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $203 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 $458 in Kericho versus $1,297 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 183% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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