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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,377 in Kilkis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,986 in Kilkis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,595 in Kilkis.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 8% less than in Kilkis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Kilkis is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$14.33 €12.49
-19.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$22.69 €19.78
107.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$11.50 €10.02
3.30%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$3.64 €3.17
9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$2.36 €2.06
-39.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$0.57 €0.50
43.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$4.02 €3.50
-20.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$6.51 €5.67
4.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.70 €1.48
-1.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$1.67 €1.46
31.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$3.81 €3.32
-55.12%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$5.31 €4.63
-48.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$14.47 €12.61
-33.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$11.28 €9.83
-20.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$18.25 €15.91
-29.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$2.57 €2.24
12.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.21 €1.92
-32.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$2.08 €1.81
3.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$2.75 €2.39
-17.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$1.25 €1.09
58.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.25 €1.09
59.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$1.52 €1.32
-19.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.94 €0.82
27.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$5.63 €4.91
-19.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$10.58 €9.23
-1.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$2.11 €1.84
-23.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$3.32 €2.90
-13.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$4.21 €3.67
28.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$1.07 €0.93
248.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$9.06 €7.90
-36.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$2.26 €1.97
-31.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$29.3K €25.5K
-22.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$31.1K €27.1K
-16.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$228 €199
-59.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$24.54 €21.39
2.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$30.79 €26.84
1.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$29.16 €25.42
130.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$8.43 €7.35
-42.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$502 €438
-55.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$9,311 €8,117
-54.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$51.7 €45.06
-8.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$28.77 €25.08
53.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$58.9 €51.3
36.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$46.06 €40.15
101.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$403 €351
163.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$408 €355
-4.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$634 €553
238.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$568 €495
124.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kilkis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$808 €705
-6.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.65
102.65%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kilkis: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $403 in Kilkis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilkis pays 7% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $23.00 in Kilkis. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $335, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kilkis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Kilkis?
Playa del Carmen and Kilkis differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $1,377 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Kilkis. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kilkis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $403 in Kilkis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Kilkis. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Kilkis?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,377 in Kilkis – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,377 in Kilkis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kilkis. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kilkis?
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 Kilkis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kilkis 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 Kilkis?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Kilkis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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