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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $51 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $86 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $121 in Khost.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 2382% more expensive than Khost, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Khost 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MX$25.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.89 ؋121

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.42 ؋26.73

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$17.29 ؋1,110

51.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$0.69 ؋44.06

349.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$0.68 ؋43.78

261.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$2.22 ؋143

45.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$1.13 ؋72.7

11.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$522.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 MX$1,456

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.21 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$7.33 ؋471

618.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

$5.61 ؋360

226.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$2.93 ؋188

68.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$28.95 ؋1,858

3273.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$14.19 ؋911

3217.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$71.1 ؋4,564

2144.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$42.38 ؋2,720

2766.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$188 ؋12.0K

280.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

14.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Khost: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $29 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 281% 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 in Playa del Carmen vs $0 in Khost for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $0 per month, with Khost 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 Khost: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khost is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2382% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Playa del Carmen pays 281% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $28.95 in Khost. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $50.8 in Khost – a 2382% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $50.8 in Khost versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khost but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khost the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Khost 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.

Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2382% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.