😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $399 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $610 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $821 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 217% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Kozhikode71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$1.60₹154
625.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$9.21₹883
411.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$3.18₹305
273.58%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$1.37₹132
190.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.36₹34.72
297.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.12₹11.12
583.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$1.43₹137
123.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$1.85₹178
267.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.60₹57.5
180.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.46₹43.78
378.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$0.49₹47.34
248.98%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$0.80₹76.8
242.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$3.55₹341
169.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.57₹343
152.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$2.05₹196
40.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.61₹58.1
145.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$0.88₹84.8
144.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.49₹46.78
361.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.35₹33.43
465.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.40₹38.82
397.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.58₹55.9
112.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.27₹25.98
344.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$5.12₹492
-11.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$5.29₹507
96.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.99₹191
-18.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.17₹208
32.72%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.44₹330
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.16₹15.16
275.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$5.32₹510
441.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.79₹75.9
582.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.46₹44.12
710.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$2.06₹197
180.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.09₹105
41.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$13.2K₹1.3M
71.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$19.6K₹1.9M
32.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$55.3₹5,301
65.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$2.97₹285
748.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$6.01₹577
419.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$19.87₹1,906
238.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$6.23₹598
367.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$2.59₹248
87.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$44.97₹4,315
397.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$504₹48.3K
739.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$27.99₹2,685
68.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$27.69₹2,657
59.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$69.6₹6,679
15.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$36.92₹3,542
150.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$112₹10.8K
847.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$76.4₹7,331
410.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$311₹29.8K
590.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$162₹15.6K
683.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$894₹85.8K
347.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$685₹65.7K
848.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$287₹27.6K
163.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
9.37
22.20%
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 Kozhikode: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $112 in Kozhikode. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 164% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $9.00 in Kozhikode. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $96.0 – making Kozhikode 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 Kozhikode: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Kozhikode compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $399 in Kozhikode – roughly 217% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Kozhikode?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $599 in Kozhikode. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Kozhikode?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kozhikode, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kozhikode?
Public transport costs about 441% less in Kozhikode. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Kozhikode?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $44.97 in Kozhikode. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kozhikode, where all-in costs run around $399, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Kozhikode it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kozhikode?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $399 in Kozhikode to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kozhikode safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Kozhikode?
If budget matters most, go with Kozhikode. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared