Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oskemen Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oskemen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $736 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,188 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,639 in Oskemen, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 76% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Oskemen 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$3.95 ₸1,937
196.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$18.49 ₸9,061
125.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$3.43 ₸1,683
210.20%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.00 ₸980
76.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.80 ₸390
88.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.52 ₸255
86.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.34 ₸659
120.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$1.45 ₸710
206.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.09 ₸536
26.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.43 ₸212
339.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.14 ₸560
43.86%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$1.60 ₸782
56.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$7.66 ₸3,752
8.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$4.37 ₸2,142
90.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$6.81 ₸3,339
57.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$1.15 ₸564
126.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.81 ₸889
-19.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$2.38 ₸1,168
-20.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$2.57 ₸1,258
-19.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$0.61 ₸297
191.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$0.47 ₸228
365.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$0.30 ₸149
246.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.73 ₸359
47.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$1.99 ₸975
105.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$4.65 ₸2,278
121.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.33 ₸653
28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$1.50 ₸734
72.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.21 ₸103
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$1.01 ₸497
222.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.29 ₸142
758.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$2.12 ₸1,040
53.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$0.46 ₸225
184.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$28.1K ₸13.8M
7.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$27.0K ₸13.2M
-13.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$41.44 ₸20.3K
99.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$9.96 ₸4,881
123.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$16.59 ₸8,130
76.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$23.36 ₸11.4K
121.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$17.33 ₸8,494
5.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$4.38 ₸2,146
15.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$58.3 ₸28.6K
244.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$2,510 ₸1.2M
107.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$119 ₸58.3K
-68.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$82.8 ₸40.6K
-51.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$98.0 ₸48.0K
-19.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$94.0 ₸46.0K
-7.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$331 ₸162.3K
193.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$221 ₸108.3K
111.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$537 ₸263.3K
205.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$468 ₸229.2K
161.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$1,008 ₸494.2K
291.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$778 ₸381.1K
735.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oskemen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$751 ₸368.2K
-11.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
19
-39.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $331 in Oskemen. 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 13% higher in Oskemen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $18.00 in Oskemen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $162 – making Oskemen 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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Oskemen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $736 in Oskemen – roughly 76% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Oskemen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,104 in Oskemen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Oskemen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oskemen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Oskemen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $736 in Oskemen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Oskemen?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $58.3 in Oskemen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Oskemen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Oskemen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $736 in Oskemen to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Oskemen?
If budget matters most, go with Oskemen. 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.

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