😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,172 in Miyazaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,801 in Miyazaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,430 in Miyazaki.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 7% more expensive than in Miyazaki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Miyazaki12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$7.58¥1,231
58.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$34.03¥5,530
22.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$5.23¥849
105.54%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.06¥173
230.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.80¥129
81.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.66¥108
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.86¥302
58.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$4.23¥687
6.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.56¥253
-8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.67¥271
10.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$4.11¥667
-61.80%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.29¥373
9.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$13.83¥2,247
-40.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.23¥1,012
35.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$13.63¥2,214
-21.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$3.49¥567
-25.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.81¥293
-20.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$3.14¥510
-37.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.85¥463
-26.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.70¥277
8.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.78¥289
21.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.90¥147
14.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.80¥130
33.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$3.81¥620
7.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.26¥1,018
62.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.00¥325
-16.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.06¥334
22.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.64¥267
-68.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$56.3¥9,141
-53.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$3.70¥601
-12.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$3.01¥489
-19.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$17.44¥2,834
-81.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.11¥180
18.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$23.1K¥3.8M
28.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$16.3K¥2.7M
45.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$116¥18.9K
-29.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$27.02¥4,391
-15.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$35.19¥5,717
-14.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$56.8¥9,235
-8.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$13.74¥2,232
34.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$12.95¥2,104
-61.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$418¥67.9K
-52.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$13.6K¥2.2M
-60.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$43.90¥7,133
-18.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$29.97¥4,869
34.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$62.2¥10.1K
26.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$61.3¥9,961
45.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$462¥75.1K
104.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$331¥53.8K
43.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$872¥141.6K
88.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$656¥106.6K
84.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$4,954¥804.8K
-18.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$1,781¥289.4K
263.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Miyazaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,216¥197.6K
-46.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
1.67
583.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Miyazaki: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $462 in Miyazaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Miyazaki pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 in Miyazaki. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $275, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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 Miyazaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Miyazaki?
Playa del Carmen and Miyazaki differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $1,172 including rent). Miyazaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 86% lower in Miyazaki. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Miyazaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $462 in Miyazaki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Miyazaki – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Miyazaki?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,172 in Miyazaki – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,172 in Miyazaki versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Miyazaki but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Miyazaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Miyazaki?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Miyazaki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Miyazaki are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Miyazaki?
Expats usually find Miyazaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% 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