๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,344 in London, KY.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,377 in London, KY.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,410 in London, KY.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 46% less than in London, KY, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, London, KY is 75% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$14.81$14.81
-21.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$49.15$49.15
-14.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$8.10$8.10
28.40%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.48$4.48
-19.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.05$2.05
-28.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.17$2.17
-58.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$4.86$4.86
-37.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$5.03$5.03
-11.13%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.84$0.84
64.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$2.64$2.64
-30.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$3.76$3.76
-57.18%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$2.95$2.95
-12.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$10.38$10.38
-18.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$9.74$9.74
-12.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$15.30$15.30
-28.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$4.28$4.28
-36.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.43$1.43
4.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$1.88$1.88
4.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$2.09$2.09
1.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.06$2.06
-9.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.68$1.68
29.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.51$1.51
-29.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.39$1.39
-24.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$5.33$5.33
-21.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$15.10$15.10
-31.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.98$1.98
-15.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.83$1.83
36.07%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.99$1.99
-72.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$3.71$3.71
-16.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.57$1.57
56.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$24.70$24.70
-86.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.87$0.87
44.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$35.4K$35.4K
-14.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$25.3K$25.3K
-7.40%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$119$119
-29.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$56.8$56.8
-60.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$57.0$57.0
-47.97%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$42.67$42.67
23.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$11.34$11.34
-56.35%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$447$447
-55.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$17.7K$17.7K
-70.00%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$28.81$28.81
24.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$22.47$22.47
78.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$76.3$76.3
3.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$59.0$59.0
46.60%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$572$572
70.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,336$1,336
-64.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$957$957
66.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,204$2,204
-44.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
London, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.2
84.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for London, KY: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $572 in London, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $49 in London, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $311 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 London, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or London, KY?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ living expenses run 86% lower than in London, KY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs London, KY?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $3,516 in London, KY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs London, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $572 in London, KY. 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 London, KY?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $447 in London, KY. 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 London, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $49.00 in London, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or London, KY?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,344 in London, KY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in London, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or London, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 86% less than in London, KY. 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