😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $64.5 in Kisii.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $98.0 in Kisii.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $132 in Kisii.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1847% more expensive than in Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Kisii95% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.36KES 176
157.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.30KES 168
11.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.79KES 231
64.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.26KES 292
99.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.52KES 66.7
253.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
-
-
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.88KES 243
33.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.37KES 48.22
37.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$15.17KES 1,961
71.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.81KES 104
298.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.57KES 203
-15.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$11.8KKES 1.5M
100.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kisii
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kisii: July 11, 2026
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 Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kisii?
Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 1847% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Kisii?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $96.8 in Kisii to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Kisii?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $64.5 in Kisii – a 1847% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Kisii?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1858% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kisii?
At $64.5 in Kisii versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kisii but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kisii the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kisii?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kisii delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $64.5 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kisii hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1847% 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