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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $895 in Kicevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,315 in Kicevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,735 in Kicevo.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 41% more expensive than Kicevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Kicevo 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$4.11 MKD 215
182.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$18.61 MKD 973
129.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$4.62 MKD 242
129.44%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$1.15 MKD 60.2
212.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$1.34 MKD 70.1
8.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$0.54 MKD 28.24
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$1.83 MKD 95.8
65.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$2.75 MKD 144
65.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.29 MKD 67.5
12.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$0.83 MKD 43.40
120.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$1.70 MKD 88.7
-5.29%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$2.24 MKD 117
13.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$9.15 MKD 478
-6.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$8.17 MKD 427
3.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$13.82 MKD 723
-21.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$1.06 MKD 55.7
157.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$1.42 MKD 74.5
4.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$1.36 MKD 71.1
42.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$2.09 MKD 109
3.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$0.81 MKD 42.32
128.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$0.94 MKD 49.09
132.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$0.69 MKD 35.85
55.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$0.56 MKD 29.08
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$3.23 MKD 169
25.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$5.55 MKD 290
88.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$1.10 MKD 57.7
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$1.51 MKD 79.2
68.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$0.64 MKD 33.29
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$20.07 MKD 1,050
30.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$0.98 MKD 51.2
220.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$0.53 MKD 27.49
347.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$7.54 MKD 395
-57.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$1.53 MKD 79.9
-14.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$34.4K MKD 1.8M
-11.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$29.4K MKD 1.5M
-18.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$163 MKD 8,502
-48.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$18.17 MKD 950
21.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$19.69 MKD 1,030
49.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$26.69 MKD 1,396
91.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$6.64 MKD 347
-26.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$320 MKD 16.8K
-37.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$1,196 MKD 62.6K
335.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$77.4 MKD 4,045
-53.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$40.42 MKD 2,114
-2.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$98.6 MKD 5,154
-18.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$111 MKD 5,792
-20.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$285 MKD 14.9K
238.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$196 MKD 10.3K
145.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$555 MKD 29.0K
196.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$307 MKD 16.0K
288.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$1,606 MKD 84.0K
146.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$1,192 MKD 62.3K
446.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$610 MKD 31.9K
19.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.54
151.54%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Kicevo: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $285 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 19% 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: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $19 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $210 per month, with Kicevo 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 Kicevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Kicevo?
Playa del Carmen and Kicevo differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,262 vs $895 including rent). Kicevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Kicevo?
Playa del Carmen pays 19% more on average, 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 Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $285 in Kicevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Kicevo?
All in, you'll spend $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $895 in Kicevo – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Kicevo?
A monthly transit pass in Kicevo runs roughly 31% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $895 in Kicevo versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kicevo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kicevo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kicevo?
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 Kicevo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kicevo 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 Kicevo?
Expats usually find Kicevo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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