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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $150 in Kitale, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $247 in Kitale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $345 in Kitale, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 739% more than Kitale, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Kitale are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Kitale 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$3.98 KES 515

194.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.45 KES 58.0

235.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$0.99 KES 128

41.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.48 KES 62.1

291.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.91 KES 247

-18.32%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$1.42 KES 183

83.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$7.95 KES 1,027

5.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$4.21 KES 544

157.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.54 KES 199

-1.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$2.37 KES 306

-21.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$0.76 KES 98.0

188.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.48 KES 61.8

287.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$0.76 KES 98.2

193.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.41 KES 52.4

160.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.73 KES 94.6

49.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$1.52 KES 197

-13.82%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

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

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kitale: July 26, 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 Kitale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 739% more than Kitale, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $225 in Kitale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $150 in Kitale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 116% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kitale, where all-in costs run around $150, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Kitale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kitale costs $150 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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