😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $623 in Kyzylorda.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $981 in Kyzylorda.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,339 in Kyzylorda.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 104% more expensive than Kyzylorda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Kyzylorda54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$7.96₸3,886
49.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$29.52₸14.4K
45.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$6.62₸3,231
60.88%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.02₸988
70.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.20₸586
25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.41₸198
131.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.13₸1,041
42.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.92₸1,426
57.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.17₸569
17.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.21₸102
780.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.83₸407
93.98%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.21₸592
114.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$8.71₸4,256
-5.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$1.79₸874
367.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$4.17₸2,034
155.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.19₸582
121.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.79₸876
-16.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.69₸825
13.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.29₸1,117
-8.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.19₸580
56.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.56₸273
303.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.20₸587
-11.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.88₸431
23.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.21₸1,081
87.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$2.31₸1,126
349.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.10₸537
56.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.69₸826
54.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.21₸104
157.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.70₸341
347.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.68₸330
269.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$4.73₸2,312
-33.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.42₸205
202.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$25.4K₸12.4M
19.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$27.6K₸13.5M
-14.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$67.5₸33.0K
22.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$8.01₸3,913
183.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$13.82₸6,750
113.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$29.00₸14.2K
75.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$15.93₸7,778
15.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$5.49₸2,683
-10.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$211₸103.1K
-6.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$4,849₸2.4M
8.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$39.03₸19.1K
-5.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$49.50₸24.2K
-19.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$47.40₸23.2K
68.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$58.0₸28.3K
54.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$168₸81.8K
470.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$136₸66.5K
250.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$251₸122.4K
556.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$197₸96.2K
521.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kyzylorda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$304₸148.5K
119.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
23
-50.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kyzylorda: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $168 in Kyzylorda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 119% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $30.00 in Kyzylorda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $138 per month, with Kyzylorda cheaper across the board.
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 Kyzylorda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kyzylorda?
Kyzylorda wins on cost – living expenses run 104% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kyzylorda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Kyzylorda?
Playa del Carmen pays 119% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Kyzylorda?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $168 in Kyzylorda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Kyzylorda?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $211 in Kyzylorda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Kyzylorda?
Dining out is cheaper in Kyzylorda – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Kyzylorda?
At $623 in Kyzylorda versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kyzylorda but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kyzylorda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kyzylorda?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kyzylorda delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $623 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kyzylorda hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kyzylorda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared