😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $739 in Khemisset.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,102 in Khemisset.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,465 in Khemisset.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 71% more expensive than in Khemisset, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Khemisset44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$1.96MAD 18.36
497.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$16.34MAD 153
156.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$7.04MAD 66.1
49.29%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$0.90MAD 8.47
298.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$0.39MAD 3.68
287.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$0.23MAD 2.17
300.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$3.75MAD 35.19
-21.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$3.31MAD 31.04
33.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$0.58MAD 5.47
141.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$0.39MAD 3.68
382.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$1.46MAD 13.73
6.85%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$1.99MAD 18.64
31.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$10.26MAD 96.3
-18.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$6.99MAD 65.6
19.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$8.99MAD 84.4
20.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$1.02MAD 9.54
165.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$0.87MAD 8.12
73.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$0.64MAD 5.99
192.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$0.45MAD 4.25
386.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$0.69MAD 6.46
169.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$0.63MAD 5.94
253.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.54MAD 5.09
98.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.62MAD 5.80
75.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$4.31MAD 40.45
-2.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$9.77MAD 91.7
6.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$3.25MAD 30.52
-48.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$3.39MAD 31.78
-23.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.47MAD 4.38
14.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
$16.14MAD 151
62.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$0.57MAD 5.35
440.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$0.52MAD 4.87
361.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$4.47MAD 41.97
-29.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$1.56MAD 14.59
-16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$36.9KMAD 346.0K
-19.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$23.8KMAD 223.4K
-2.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$84.7MAD 794
-3.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$6.41MAD 60.2
251.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$39.88MAD 374
-24.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$13.46MAD 126
293.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$22.77MAD 214
-19.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$7.24MAD 68.0
-32.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$97.8MAD 918
105.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$6,433MAD 60.4K
-19.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$30.64MAD 287
17.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$45.95MAD 431
-12.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$89.0MAD 835
-10.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$82.3MAD 773
5.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$276MAD 2,594
253.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$171MAD 1,609
174.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$502MAD 4,711
228.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$301MAD 2,821
300.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$1,110MAD 10.4K
256.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$895MAD 8,396
638.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Khemisset
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$397MAD 3,728
70.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.35
162.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Khemisset: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $276 in Khemisset. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $16.00 in Khemisset for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $187 per month, with Khemisset 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 Khemisset: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Khemisset?
Playa del Carmen and Khemisset differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $739 including rent). Khemisset is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Khemisset?
Average pay runs 70% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Khemisset?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $276 in Khemisset. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khemisset – a meal for two runs $16.00 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 expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Khemisset?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $739 in Khemisset – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $739 in Khemisset versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Khemisset but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khemisset the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Khemisset?
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.
Is Playa del Carmen or Khemisset safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Khemisset are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Khemisset?
Expats usually find Khemisset gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% 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