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: $1,260 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 Carmen 5% lower, Kicevo 32% lower.

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

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