🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,451 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,475 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,498 in Kingston.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 11% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Kingston is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$7.61JMD 1,192
54.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$62.0JMD 9,707
-32.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.80JMD 1,379
20.91%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$4.36JMD 682
-19.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.32JMD 207
14.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.74JMD 117
31.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.57JMD 403
14.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$3.20JMD 501
39.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$4.36JMD 684
-68.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$3.66JMD 573
-48.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.57JMD 246
4.46%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$3.47JMD 543
-27.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$11.19JMD 1,754
-25.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.42JMD 1,007
29.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$7.82JMD 1,225
37.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$5.96JMD 933
-56.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$3.13JMD 491
-53.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$4.30JMD 673
-55.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.96JMD 464
-29.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$2.03JMD 317
-12.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$2.01JMD 315
8.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$3.12JMD 489
-66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$1.45JMD 227
-25.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$8.89JMD 1,393
-54.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$11.29JMD 1,769
-8.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.90JMD 454
-41.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.20JMD 502
-19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.89JMD 140
-42.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$48.53JMD 7,604
-45.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.12JMD 176
191.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$3.15JMD 494
-20.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$6.19JMD 971
-47.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.28JMD 201
2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$43.2KJMD 6.8M
-29.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$33.8KJMD 5.3M
-30.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$163JMD 25.5K
-49.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$22.49JMD 3,523
-1.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$50.7JMD 7,942
-42.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$69.4JMD 10.9K
-25.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$15.50JMD 2,428
18.19%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$12.92JMD 2,024
-60.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$222JMD 34.8K
-9.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$2,451JMD 384.0K
112.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$25.73JMD 4,032
43.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$25.24JMD 3,955
57.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$72.4JMD 11.3K
8.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$75.6JMD 11.8K
15.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$880JMD 137.9K
10.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$451JMD 70.7K
3.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,021JMD 316.7K
-18.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,204JMD 188.7K
1.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,863JMD 448.5K
37.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$2,192JMD 343.5K
196.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$732JMD 114.7K
-9.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.15
24.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston pays 10% 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 $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $353 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kingston?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Kingston?
On paper, Kingston earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Kingston?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $222 in Kingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Kingston?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kingston?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Kingston. 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