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: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $49.69 in Khost.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $85.0 in Khost.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $121 in Khost.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 2457% more expensive than 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

$11.87 MX$204

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.94 ؋125

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$0.41 ؋26.51

31.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

$17.53 ؋1,125

53.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$0.69 ؋44.47

353.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$0.70 ؋45.08

258.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

$2.12 ؋136

48.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$1.17 ؋74.9

8.55%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

$6.99 ؋448

629.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

$5.76 ؋370

218.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$2.79 ؋179

76.70%

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

$29.29 ؋1,879

3164.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

$14.63 ؋938

3160.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$72.7 ؋4,664

2164.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$43.88 ؋2,815

2690.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$189 ؋12.1K

252.81%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Khost: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $29.29 in Khost. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 253% 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 2457% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Playa del Carmen pays 253% 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: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.29 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 54% 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $49.69 in Khost – a 2457% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $49.69 in Khost versus $1,271 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 2457% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.