😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $503 in Kerman, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $841 in Kerman, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,180 in Kerman, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 150% more than Kerman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kerman are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Kerman62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$3.96$3.96
202.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$16.48$16.48
153.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$3.93$3.93
173.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.52$0.52
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.00$1.00
-
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.50$1.50
133.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.70$0.70
107.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.00$1.00
-12.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.60$0.60
138.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.53$0.53
247.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$2.70$2.70
-41.85%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.01$1.01
148.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$3.48$3.48
137.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$1.99$1.99
323.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$8.46$8.46
26.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$0.81$0.81
222.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.83$1.83
-21.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.02$1.02
92.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$0.64$0.64
226.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.63$0.63
193.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.49$0.49
342.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.68$0.68
51.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.30$0.30
256.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.57$0.57
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.54$0.54
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.77$0.77
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$1.47$1.47
178.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.16$0.16
218.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$9.86$9.86
164.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.47$0.47
587.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.39$0.39
517.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$2.02$2.02
59.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$0.78$0.78
69.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$53.6K$53.6K
-44.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$44.9K$44.9K
-47.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$10.83$10.83
657.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$2.48$2.48
825.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$5.83$5.83
416.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$17.11$17.11
203.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$7.29$7.29
154.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$1.52$1.52
227.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$116$116
69.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$1,941$1,941
174.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$21.75$21.75
63.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$25.38$25.38
58.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$130$130
-39.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$57.9$57.9
53.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$338$338
180.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$167$167
183.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$827$827
98.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$402$402
201.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$917$917
342.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$505$505
1181.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kerman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$202$202
223.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
22.24
-48.65%
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 Kerman: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $338 in Kerman. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 224% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $16.00 in Kerman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $103 – making Kerman the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kerman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Kerman compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $503 in Kerman – roughly 150% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Kerman?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $755 in Kerman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Kerman?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kerman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $16.00 in Kerman. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Kerman?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $503 in Kerman. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kerman, where all-in costs run around $503, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Kerman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kerman?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $503 in Kerman to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kerman safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Kerman?
If budget matters most, go with Kerman. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared