😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,060 in Krugersdorp, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,641 in Krugersdorp, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,222 in Krugersdorp, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 21% more than Krugersdorp, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Krugersdorp are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Krugersdorp21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$11.05R 183
8.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$33.43R 553
27.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$4.70R 77.7
125.32%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$2.25R 37.16
60.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$1.03R 16.96
42.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$0.81R 13.37
16.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$2.50R 41.37
23.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$2.44R 40.46
82.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.20R 19.81
19.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$1.05R 17.45
79.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$1.63R 27.04
-
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$2.46R 40.75
7.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$8.19R 136
0.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$4.50R 74.4
84.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$6.63R 110
67.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$1.63R 26.98
62.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$1.56R 25.74
-3.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$1.49R 24.61
33.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$1.66R 27.44
25.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$1.37R 22.75
30.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$1.17R 19.43
86.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$1.06R 17.49
1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$0.93R 15.33
11.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$3.02R 49.97
31.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$6.15R 102
65.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$1.35R 22.36
28.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$1.58R 26.21
58.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$1.64R 27.07
-68.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$1.09R 18.04
188.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$0.96R 15.84
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$3.13R 51.8
-1.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$1.27R 20.98
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$22.2KR 367.6K
39.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$25.6KR 422.9K
-8.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$124R 2,047
-33.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$40.85R 676
-45.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$43.47R 719
-31.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$26.78R 443
93.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
$27.97R 463
-33.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$7.46R 124
-33.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$194R 3,208
2.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$4,698R 77.7K
12.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$51.4R 851
-29.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$34.17R 566
17.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$92.3R 1,528
-13.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$83.5R 1,383
6.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$193R 3,192
399.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$352R 5,828
31.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$241R 3,983
563.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$695R 11.5K
74.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
$138R 2,277
4587.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$1,959R 32.4K
-63.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.69
-2.31%
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 Krugersdorp: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $193 in Krugersdorp. 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 172% higher in Krugersdorp, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Krugersdorp. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $182 – making Krugersdorp 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 Krugersdorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krugersdorp cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,590 in Krugersdorp. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Krugersdorp, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Krugersdorp?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $33.00 in Krugersdorp. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Krugersdorp?
Groceries cost about 38% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Krugersdorp?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Krugersdorp, where all-in costs run around $1,060, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Krugersdorp it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Krugersdorp more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Krugersdorp – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Krugersdorp?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Krugersdorp. 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