😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $575 in Koronadal City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $868 in Koronadal City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,161 in Koronadal City.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 124% more expensive than Koronadal City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Koronadal City57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$4.48₱274
166.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$14.28₱874
199.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$3.82₱234
177.23%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$1.96₱120
84.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$0.42₱25.89
250.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$0.36₱22.10
161.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$1.31₱80.2
135.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$1.81₱111
146.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.68₱103
-14.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$0.77₱46.93
144.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$0.92₱56.1
77.17%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$1.45₱88.6
82.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$5.96₱365
37.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$3.26₱200
154.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$5.46₱334
103.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$2.59₱158
2.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$0.96₱58.9
56.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$1.62₱99.4
22.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$1.24₱76.1
67.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$2.31₱141
-22.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$3.03₱185
-28.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$1.06₱64.9
1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$0.56₱34.29
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$2.64₱161
50.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$7.53₱461
35.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$1.02₱62.2
69.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$1.56₱95.7
60.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$0.30₱18.27
73.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
$17.78₱1,088
51.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$0.78₱47.87
302.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$0.25₱15.30
860.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$2.16₱132
43.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$1.11₱67.9
14.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$22.4K₱1.4M
37.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$15.8K₱968.0K
47.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$106₱6,489
-22.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$26.13₱1,599
-14.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$35.76₱2,188
-17.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$25.25₱1,545
105.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
$4.38₱268
326.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$3.18₱194
56.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$120₱7,327
65.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$4,296₱262.8K
22.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$13.20₱808
175.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$9.73₱595
311.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$53.0₱3,245
50.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$43.59₱2,667
103.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$80.6₱4,934
1094.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$51.0₱3,118
811.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$156₱9,566
920.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$105₱6,452
1046.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$2,363₱144.6K
66.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Koronadal City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$130₱7,943
454.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.5
75.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Koronadal City: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $80.6 in Koronadal City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 455% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $14.00 in Koronadal City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $163 per month, with Koronadal City 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 Koronadal City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Koronadal City?
Koronadal City wins on cost – living expenses run 124% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koronadal City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Koronadal City?
Playa del Carmen pays 455% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Koronadal City?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $80.6 in Koronadal City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Koronadal City?
Dining out is cheaper in Koronadal City – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Koronadal City?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $575 in Koronadal City – a 124% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Koronadal City?
At $575 in Koronadal City versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koronadal City but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Koronadal City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Koronadal City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Koronadal City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $575 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koronadal City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Koronadal City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% 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