😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $375 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $598 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $821 in Kozhikode, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 236% more than Kozhikode, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kozhikode are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kozhikode72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$1.70₹163
589.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$727
$11.67₹1,117
258.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$3.57₹341
194.40%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.2
$1.27₹121
182.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.16
$0.39₹37.37
287.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.87
$0.15₹14.24
513.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.3
$1.47₹141
101.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.5
$2.38₹228
85.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.21
$0.66₹63.4
112.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.68
$0.48₹46.26
291.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.03
$0.53₹51.1
194.34%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.25
$0.89₹85.3
193.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$5.11₹489
62.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$2.51₹240
232.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.04
$2.10₹201
29.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.11
$0.65₹62.6
132.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.49
$1.07₹103
74.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.98
$0.52₹49.99
321.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.21
$0.44₹41.73
322.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.68
$0.40₹38.37
457.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.53
$0.66₹63.5
62.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.84
$0.25₹23.81
336.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$4.53₹433
-7.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$181
$5.17₹494
101.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.75
$2.02₹194
-17.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.30
$2.61₹250
-
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.98₹381
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.39
$0.12₹11.17
350.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$454
$5.89₹564
344.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.4
$0.94₹90.1
227.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.71
$0.26₹24.84
823.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.2
$1.76₹168
77.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.74
$1.23₹118
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$517.0K
$11.8K₹1.1M
153.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$404.5K
$19.8K₹1.9M
18.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,410
$43.43₹4,155
87.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$391
$3.43₹328
557.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$521
$6.33₹605
374.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$918
$16.52₹1,581
220.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$6.07₹581
202.97%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.3
$2.90₹277
69.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,483
$39.48₹3,777
408.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.7K
$571₹54.7K
805.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$623
$30.81₹2,948
16.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$696
$29.88₹2,859
34.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,382
$55.7₹5,332
43.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,500
$42.39₹4,056
103.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.0K
$95.0₹9,093
929.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,160
$72.5₹6,935
549.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$279₹26.7K
491.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.9K
$169₹16.2K
610.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.6K
$898₹85.9K
340.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.6K
$668₹64.0K
888.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kozhikode
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$253₹24.2K
167.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.62
49.87%
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 Kozhikode: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $95.0 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 168% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.00 in Kozhikode. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $100 – 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: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $375 in Kozhikode – roughly 236% 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $563 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 344% 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $39.48 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 $375, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $375 in Kozhikode to $1,260 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