😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,197 in Krugersdorp, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,848 in Krugersdorp, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,280 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,499 in Krugersdorp, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 6% more than Krugersdorp, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Krugersdorp are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Krugersdorp12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.84MX$221
$12.28R 201
4.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.54MX$783
$38.11R 623
19.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.58MX$216
$5.37R 87.7
134.26%
Cappuccino
$3.93MX$67.5
$2.39R 39.03
64.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.77
$1.19R 19.50
15.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75MX$12.98
$0.91R 14.85
-17.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$52.4
$2.77R 45.36
9.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80MX$117
$2.79R 45.62
143.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MX$28.66
$1.32R 21.61
26.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$38.12
$1.08R 17.63
105.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70MX$29.19
$1.70R 27.80
-
Eggs
$2.67MX$45.84
$2.48R 40.53
7.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13MX$157
$8.71R 142
4.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.94MX$154
$5.02R 82.1
78.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.54MX$216
$8.22R 134
52.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99MX$51.5
$1.82R 29.78
64.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53MX$26.34
$1.66R 27.08
-7.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14MX$36.83
$1.79R 29.33
19.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29MX$39.43
$1.69R 27.60
35.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.28
$1.22R 20.01
68.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.13
$1.26R 20.67
61.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21MX$20.84
$1.22R 19.95
-0.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18MX$20.29
$1.25R 20.46
-5.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.62MX$79.5
$3.22R 52.6
43.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.41MX$179
$6.03R 98.5
72.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.33
$1.53R 24.97
7.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93MX$50.3
$1.91R 31.23
53.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59MX$10.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.43MX$489
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.07MX$87.1
$0.31R 5.15
1535.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.66MX$62.9
$0.81R 13.19
351.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.85MX$101
$14.45R 236
-59.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57MX$26.97
$1.53R 24.99
2.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$383.5K
$36.1KR 589.6K
-38.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KMX$442.8K
$31.7KR 517.4K
-18.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7MX$1,525
$189R 3,093
-53.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.82MX$392
$37.77R 617
-39.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.42MX$523
$38.31R 626
-20.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3MX$1,174
$29.24R 478
133.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.60MX$492
$30.65R 501
-6.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94MX$85.0
$8.07R 132
-38.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216MX$3,718
$246R 4,021
-12.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,146MX$71.3K
$5,430R 88.8K
-23.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.48MX$800
$56.7R 928
-18.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13MX$759
$39.93R 653
10.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2MX$1,586
$101R 1,653
-8.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4MX$1,606
$90.8R 1,484
2.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,080MX$18.6K
$215R 3,510
402.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389MX$6,693
$374R 6,108
4.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$33.3K
$256R 4,180
656.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,277MX$22.0K
$743R 12.1K
71.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,958MX$68.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,438MX$110.7K
$139R 2,274
4527.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Krugersdorp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$752MX$12.9K
$1,737R 28.4K
-56.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
11.34
2.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 4, 2026
Last update for Krugersdorp: August 3, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,080 in Playa del Carmen versus $215 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 131% 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Krugersdorp. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $201 – 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 6%, 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 $1,907 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,795 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 in Krugersdorp?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen and $38.00 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 in Krugersdorp?
Groceries cost about 37% 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Krugersdorp?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Krugersdorp, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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