😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $662 in Ksar Hellal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,061 in Ksar Hellal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,460 in Ksar Hellal, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 94% more than Ksar Hellal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ksar Hellal are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Ksar Hellal51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.87TND 11.18
208.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$23.39TND 67.6
82.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.97TND 14.37
113.08%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$0.90TND 2.62
302.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.66TND 1.90
122.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.29TND 0.83
224.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.65TND 4.77
87.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$1.65TND 4.77
170.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.50TND 1.45
186.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.18TND 0.52
944.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.32TND 3.81
23.48%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.49TND 4.30
77.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$10.53TND 30.43
-22.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.67TND 16.40
46.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$14.08TND 40.70
-21.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.57TND 4.53
68.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$3.16TND 9.14
-52.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$0.92TND 2.66
116.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.61TND 1.77
240.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.71TND 2.04
152.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.59TND 1.69
269.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.40TND 1.16
170.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.30TND 0.87
246.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.45TND 9.97
15.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.00TND 14.45
104.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.20TND 3.47
44.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.05TND 3.03
138.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.35TND 1.02
48.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$10.00TND 28.91
169.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.30TND 0.85
946.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.33TND 0.97
627.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$3.47TND 10.02
-10.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.83TND 2.41
53.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$41.2KTND 119.0K
-25.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$37.4KTND 108.1K
-37.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$59.5TND 172
37.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$9.88TND 28.55
127.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$18.21TND 52.6
62.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$29.84TND 86.2
73.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$12.59TND 36.38
48.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.31TND 15.35
-6.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$107TND 310
84.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$3,245TND 9,377
62.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$41.58TND 120
-12.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$60.1TND 174
-33.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$94.6TND 273
-15.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$80.9TND 234
9.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$199TND 575
383.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$137TND 395
239.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$370TND 1,070
331.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$276TND 798
337.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,034TND 2,990
281.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$637TND 1,841
912.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ksar Hellal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$313TND 905
130.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.96
4.20%
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 Ksar Hellal: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $199 in Ksar Hellal. 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 130% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.00 in Ksar Hellal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $180 – making Ksar Hellal 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 Ksar Hellal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ksar Hellal?
Playa del Carmen costs about 94% more than Ksar Hellal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Ksar Hellal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $993 in Ksar Hellal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Ksar Hellal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ksar Hellal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Ksar Hellal?
Public transport costs about 170% less in Ksar Hellal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Ksar Hellal?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $107 in Ksar Hellal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Ksar Hellal?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ksar Hellal, where all-in costs run around $662, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Ksar Hellal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ksar Hellal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ksar Hellal costs $662 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Ksar Hellal?
If budget matters most, go with Ksar Hellal. 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