🙂A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,841 in Kista, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,845 in Kista, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,849 in Kista, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 30% cheaper than Kista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Kista is 38% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$204
$13.40SEK 128
-12.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$725
$73.7SEK 706
-43.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$181
$10.67SEK 102
-2.44%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.52SEK 43.33
-20.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.28
$2.75SEK 26.34
-46.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.50SEK 23.96
-61.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.8
$7.84SEK 75.1
-62.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$80.2
$7.42SEK 71.2
-37.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.67SEK 16.02
-14.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.98
$2.87SEK 27.48
-33.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.18
$3.81SEK 36.52
-58.79%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.73
$4.16SEK 39.90
-36.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$146
$12.07SEK 116
-30.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$149
$11.74SEK 113
-26.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$191
$16.88SEK 162
-34.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.91
$3.10SEK 29.72
-12.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.15
$2.58SEK 24.68
-41.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.22
$3.02SEK 28.92
-36.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.69
$4.38SEK 41.97
-50.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.53
$1.56SEK 14.94
19.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.76
$1.79SEK 17.18
24.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.76
$2.64SEK 25.29
-59.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$1.51SEK 14.47
-29.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.2
$7.44SEK 71.3
-44.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$179
$9.21SEK 88.3
11.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.20
$1.96SEK 18.81
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.96
$1.90SEK 18.25
33.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.61
$3.30SEK 31.63
-83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$456
$75.2SEK 721
-65.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$6.29SEK 60.3
-49.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.73
$1.60SEK 15.36
53.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$62.5SEK 599
-94.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.91
$1.90SEK 18.19
-30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$523.3K
$32.8KSEK 314.4K
-8.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$34.4KSEK 329.3K
-31.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,412
$112SEK 1,073
-27.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$389
$28.99SEK 278
-22.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$520
$36.29SEK 348
-17.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$40.93SEK 392
25.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$25.26SEK 242
-27.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$89.6
$15.90SEK 152
-67.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,501
$144SEK 1,381
40.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$92.2K
$4,120SEK 39.5K
28.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$618
$94.9SEK 909
-62.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$701
$40.22SEK 385
0.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,365
$96.6SEK 925
-18.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,507
$152SEK 1,457
-42.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.5K
$848SEK 8,122
12.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,298
$641SEK 6,143
-25.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$28.1K
$1,417SEK 13.6K
14.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$1,078SEK 10.3K
13.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.6K
$3,939SEK 37.8K
1.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$112.3K
$2,986SEK 28.6K
116.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kista
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.53
152.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Kista: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $848 in Kista. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $74.0 in Kista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $357 – 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 Kista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kista?
Kista costs about 42% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Kista?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,761 in Kista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kista?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Kista?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $1,841 in Kista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Kista?
Public transport costs about 186% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kista?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Kista at $1,841. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kista it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kista?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,294 versus $1,841 in Kista. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kista?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Kista?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kista makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared