😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $690 in Koysinjaq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,093 in Koysinjaq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,497 in Koysinjaq.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 83% more expensive than in Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Koysinjaq50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$7.46IQD 9,765
55.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$44.43IQD 58.2K
6.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$8.56IQD 11.2K
38.79%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$3.67IQD 4,799
8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$1.02IQD 1,336
40.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$0.42IQD 549
95.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$6.26IQD 8,202
-49.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$4.53IQD 5,931
49.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$1.22IQD 1,598
37.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$0.78IQD 1,019
182.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$1.75IQD 2,288
-2.29%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$1.79IQD 2,347
53.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$8.27IQD 10.8K
15.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$5.57IQD 7,291
61.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$14.83IQD 19.4K
-13.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$1.13IQD 1,483
155.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$1.12IQD 1,465
33.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$1.18IQD 1,548
82.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$0.81IQD 1,054
179.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$0.71IQD 932
178.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$0.72IQD 946
176.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$0.79IQD 1,029
55.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$0.55IQD 725
118.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$2.51IQD 3,282
81.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$12.30IQD 16.1K
-15.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$1.62IQD 2,121
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$2.06IQD 2,703
39.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$1.95IQD 2,551
176.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$1.73IQD 2,270
115.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$6.41IQD 8,389
-9.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$0.62IQD 814
148.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$18.1KIQD 23.7M
24.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$19.6KIQD 25.6M
33.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$128IQD 167.8K
-28.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$13.79IQD 18.1K
82.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$28.35IQD 37.1K
10.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$11.63IQD 15.2K
-58.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$308IQD 402.9K
-27.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$3,106IQD 4.1M
36.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$30.76IQD 40.3K
53.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$45.05IQD 59.0K
-1.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$69.0IQD 90.4K
16.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$69.2IQD 90.6K
33.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Koysinjaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
2.53
352.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Koysinjaq: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $44.00 in Koysinjaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $203 per month, with Koysinjaq 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 Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Koysinjaq?
Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koysinjaq the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Koysinjaq?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $1,035 in Koysinjaq 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Koysinjaq?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Koysinjaq?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $690 in Koysinjaq – a 83% 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 in Koysinjaq?
At $690 in Koysinjaq versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koysinjaq but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Koysinjaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Koysinjaq?
Both work as nomad bases, but Koysinjaq delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $690 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koysinjaq hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Koysinjaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% 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