Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kinmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Kinmen: $1,069 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Kinmen, Taiwan
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Kinmen
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,069
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Kinmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Kinmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,069 in Kinmen, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Kinmen $1,069

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,808 in Kinmen, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Kinmen $1,808

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,548 in Kinmen, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Kinmen $2,548

Playa del Carmen costs about 13% more than Kinmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kinmen are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Kinmen 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$4.72 NT$153
131.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$30.66 NT$993
41.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$4.97 NT$161
137.02%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$2.94 NT$95.3
29.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.89
$0.89 NT$28.95
43.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.58
$0.70 NT$22.71
11.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$1.73 NT$56.0
83.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$2.40 NT$77.8
105.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.20
$2.94 NT$95.3
-52.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.30
$1.78 NT$57.6
24.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.40
$2.83 NT$91.5
-49.82%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.00
$2.68 NT$86.9
-5.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$19.11 NT$619
-62.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$7.93 NT$257
-2.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$20.63 NT$668
-38.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$4.11 NT$133
-32.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.49
$2.40 NT$77.7
-42.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.52
$2.89 NT$93.6
-11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.55
$3.17 NT$103
-33.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.11
$2.65 NT$85.8
-26.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.13
$2.03 NT$65.6
-6.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.36
$2.16 NT$69.8
-46.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.96
$1.03 NT$33.35
14.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$3.79 NT$123
13.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$11.63 NT$377
-14.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.50
$1.59 NT$51.5
-0.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.76
$2.21 NT$71.5
20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$0.59 NT$19.08
-6.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$33.25 NT$1,077
-19.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$2.66 NT$86.1
86.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$0.74 NT$23.91
350.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$9.47 NT$307
-43.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.90
$1.03 NT$33.31
39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.0K
$35.4K NT$1.1M
-41.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.2K
$23.1K NT$746.8K
1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,580
$87.0 NT$2,817
-2.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$17.11 NT$554
36.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$22.39 NT$725
28.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$35.98 NT$1,165
58.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$10.13 NT$328
-49.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,848
$565 NT$18.3K
-63.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$16.5K NT$535.0K
-76.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$61.8 NT$2,003
-29.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$31.20 NT$1,010
32.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,382
$81.6 NT$2,642
-9.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,663
$102 NT$3,291
-12.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$414 NT$13.4K
136.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,095
$253 NT$8,188
50.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$1,053 NT$34.1K
62.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$722 NT$23.4K
48.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$7,706 NT$249.5K
-48.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.7K
$4,832 NT$156.5K
27.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kinmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.39
379.08%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kinmen: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Kinmen
$253 33.6% $128
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Kinmen
$359 41% $104
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Kinmen
$108 46.7% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Kinmen
$126 7.6% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Kinmen
$124 11.3% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Kinmen
$56 16.5% $11
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Kinmen
$42 16.8% $8.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $414 in Kinmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $31 in Kinmen. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Playa del Carmen vs $359 in Kinmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇹🇼 Kinmen
🕒 Local time
05:23 5:23 AM
18:23 6:23 PM
13 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
12,568
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.79 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 32.38 TWD (100 TWD = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 36.14 TWD (100 TWD = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Kinmen 14,300 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Kinmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kinmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinmen cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,603 in Kinmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kinmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $414 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $565 in Kinmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kinmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is $1,500 enough for either Playa del Carmen or Kinmen?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $1,069 in Kinmen, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Kinmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,069 in Kinmen to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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