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: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $49.52 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $86.0 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $122 in Khost.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 2445% more expensive than in Khost, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Khost 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.88 ؋123

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.45 ؋29.23

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$17.36 ؋1,138

50.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$0.73 ؋47.98

321.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$0.70 ؋45.74

242.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$2.22 ؋145

40.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$1.12 ؋73.3

16.96%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

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

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$7.09 ؋465

646.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$5.59 ؋367

228.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$2.93 ؋192

67.92%

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$29.22 ؋1,916

3247.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$14.54 ؋953

3135.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$72.0 ؋4,717

2195.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$43.78 ؋2,870

2648.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$185 ؋12.1K

265.84%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Khost: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $29.22 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 266% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 2445% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 266% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.22 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 51% 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $49.52 in Khost – a 2445% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $49.52 in Khost versus $1,260 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 2445% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.