😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $905 in Kicevo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,318 in Kicevo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,730 in Kicevo.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 39% more expensive than in Kicevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kicevo32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$4.10MKD 219
185.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$18.99MKD 1,015
120.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.69MKD 250
124.09%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.11MKD 59.3
223.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.27MKD 68.1
18.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.55MKD 29.27
67.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.89MKD 101
56.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.90MKD 155
52.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.33MKD 70.9
5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.83MKD 44.11
126.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.74MKD 92.7
-10.34%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.26MKD 121
15.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$9.36MKD 500
-11.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$7.88MKD 421
5.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$13.72MKD 733
-20.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.05MKD 56.2
158.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.42MKD 76.1
6.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.38MKD 73.7
35.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.09MKD 112
4.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.81MKD 43.18
129.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.97MKD 51.9
129.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.72MKD 38.72
48.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.55MKD 29.38
98.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$3.26MKD 174
28.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$5.60MKD 299
86.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.05MKD 56.4
58.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.56MKD 83.2
67.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.63MKD 33.91
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$19.94MKD 1,066
31.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.95MKD 50.9
224.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.49MKD 26.22
389.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$7.54MKD 403
-58.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.47MKD 78.4
-10.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$33.8KMKD 1.8M
-11.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
-21.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$161MKD 8,604
-49.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$18.15MKD 970
24.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$19.53MKD 1,044
53.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$25.81MKD 1,379
105.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.48MKD 346
-24.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$312MKD 16.7K
-35.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$1,184MKD 63.3K
336.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$75.8MKD 4,050
-52.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$39.83MKD 2,128
0.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$99.1MKD 5,294
-19.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$110MKD 5,856
-21.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$286MKD 15.3K
242.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$198MKD 10.6K
137.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$573MKD 30.6K
187.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$309MKD 16.5K
289.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,591MKD 85.0K
148.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,247MKD 66.6K
430.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$594MKD 31.7K
13.91%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kicevo: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $286 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 14% 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 $19.00 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $209 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 in Kicevo?
Playa del Carmen and Kicevo differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $905 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?
Average pay runs 14% 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 Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $286 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $905 in Kicevo – a 39% 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 in 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 $905 in Kicevo versus $1,260 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 39% 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