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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,286 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,230 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,173 in Kingston, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 45% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Kingston is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.61 MX$201

$16.72 CA$22.91

-30.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$742

$74.2 CA$102

-42.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.60 MX$184

$11.28 CA$15.46

-6.03%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.3

$3.69 CA$5.06

-2.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.21

$1.90 CA$2.60

-23.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MX$15.58

$1.44 CA$1.97

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$6.04 CA$8.28

-49.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 MX$79.2

$6.45 CA$8.83

-29.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MX$25.20

$2.58 CA$3.53

-43.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.72

$2.54 CA$3.47

-27.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.92

$4.17 CA$5.71

-61.39%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.05

$2.91 CA$3.99

-12.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MX$148

$10.68 CA$14.63

-20.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 MX$147

$11.42 CA$15.64

-25.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$11.41 CA$15.63

-4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.37

$3.56 CA$4.87

-23.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.91

$1.32 CA$1.80

12.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 MX$33.73

$4.01 CA$5.50

-51.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.57

$4.86 CA$6.66

-55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.05

$3.54 CA$4.85

-47.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.00

$2.41 CA$3.30

-9.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.62

$2.97 CA$4.07

-63.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.81

$1.62 CA$2.22

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MX$70.5

$13.87 CA$19.00

-70.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.46 MX$182

$12.45 CA$17.06

-15.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MX$28.71

$2.29 CA$3.13

-27.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 MX$44.23

$3.30 CA$4.53

-22.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.65

$2.52 CA$3.46

-77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

$58.0 CA$79.5

-54.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.5

$3.27 CA$4.48

-3.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 MX$41.17

$1.57 CA$2.16

50.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.2

$32.56 CA$44.60

-90.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.81

$1.08 CA$1.49

21.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.5K MX$530.2K

$24.6K CA$33.7K

24.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K MX$413.6K

$21.4K CA$29.3K

11.55%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.1 MX$1,443

$130 CA$178

-35.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.15 MX$385

$44.36 CA$60.8

-50.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.37 MX$510

$78.7 CA$108

-62.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 MX$889

$32.36 CA$44.33

58.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

$9.29 CA$12.73

101.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MX$84.9

$11.18 CA$15.32

-56.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$199 MX$3,449

$446 CA$611

-55.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,207 MX$90.4K

$11.7K CA$16.0K

-55.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$624

$46.10 CA$63.2

-22.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.39 MX$684

$35.95 CA$49.25

9.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 MX$1,394

$95.1 CA$130

-15.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 MX$1,520

$92.3 CA$126

-5.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.7K

$1,289 CA$1,766

-25.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MX$8,370

$1,189 CA$1,630

-59.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 MX$28.6K

$2,130 CA$2,918

-22.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 MX$20.7K

$1,679 CA$2,301

-29.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 MX$68.7K

$3,450 CA$4,726

14.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 MX$113.1K

$2,513 CA$3,443

159.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 MX$12.6K

$3,086 CA$4,228

-76.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.69

70.70%

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 Kingston: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,289 in Kingston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 325% higher in Kingston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $74 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $359 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $2,286 in Kingston – roughly 81% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,429 in Kingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,286 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 122% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Kingston at $2,286. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,286 in Kingston. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.