😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $898 in Kicevo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,324 in Kicevo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,749 in Kicevo.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 42% more expensive than Kicevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kicevo33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$4.15MKD 220
186.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$19.10MKD 1,014
124.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$4.63MKD 246
130.02%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.11MKD 58.8
210.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.28MKD 67.8
17.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.54MKD 28.65
75.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.85MKD 98.2
63.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.87MKD 152
60.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.28MKD 68.2
7.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.83MKD 44.02
122.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.68MKD 89.0
-4.17%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.17MKD 115
19.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.12MKD 484
-9.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$8.05MKD 427
3.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$13.87MKD 736
-23.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.01MKD 53.5
160.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.41MKD 74.7
5.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.36MKD 71.9
41.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.05MKD 109
1.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.88MKD 46.55
111.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.94MKD 49.66
140.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.72MKD 38.40
47.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.54MKD 28.90
101.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$3.14MKD 167
32.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.75MKD 305
80.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.07MKD 56.7
60.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.56MKD 83.0
67.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.68MKD 36.18
-20.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$20.23MKD 1,073
33.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.96MKD 50.9
226.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.53MKD 28.21
373.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$7.62MKD 404
-58.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.53MKD 81.0
-16.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$33.3KMKD 1.8M
-8.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$30.2KMKD 1.6M
-21.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$159MKD 8,454
-47.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$18.28MKD 970
24.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$19.24MKD 1,021
53.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$25.98MKD 1,379
96.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$6.63MKD 352
-25.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$312MKD 16.6K
-36.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$1,201MKD 63.7K
339.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$77.2MKD 4,098
-52.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$40.36MKD 2,141
-1.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$98.8MKD 5,242
-19.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$111MKD 5,912
-19.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$282MKD 15.0K
238.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$195MKD 10.3K
145.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$575MKD 30.5K
186.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$312MKD 16.5K
292.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,617MKD 85.8K
142.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,259MKD 66.8K
413.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$595MKD 31.6K
12.05%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kicevo: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $282 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 12% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $19.00 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 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 Kicevo?
Playa del Carmen and Kicevo differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $898 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 12% 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: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $282 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $898 in Kicevo – a 42% 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 33% 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 $898 in Kicevo versus $1,271 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 42% 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