🙂A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,577 in Pikeville, KY, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,811 in Pikeville, KY, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,045 in Pikeville, KY, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 51% cheaper than Pikeville, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Pikeville, KY is 92% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$17.98$17.98
-35.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$78.7$78.7
-46.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$10.04$10.04
3.59%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$5.30$5.30
-31.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.31$2.31
-36.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.05$2.05
-55.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.84$5.84
-48.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$7.64$7.64
-41.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.55$0.55
150.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$2.75$2.75
-33.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$5.15$5.15
-68.74%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$3.13$3.13
-17.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$15.47$15.47
-45.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$12.24$12.24
-30.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$14.80$14.80
-25.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$5.56$5.56
-50.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.52$1.52
-1.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$4.19$4.19
-53.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$5.63$5.63
-62.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.67$2.67
-30.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.72$2.72
-20.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.90$1.90
-43.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$2.05$2.05
-48.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$8.81$8.81
-52.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$15.71$15.71
-34.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.73$2.73
-38.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.25$3.25
-23.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$2.02$2.02
-73.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$2.74$2.74
13.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.39$1.39
76.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$29.75$29.75
-89.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.84$0.84
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$34.8K$34.8K
-13.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$26.3K$26.3K
-11.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$239$239
-64.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$55.9$55.9
-60.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$60.9$60.9
-51.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$42.68$42.68
23.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$11.94$11.94
-58.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,264$1,264
-84.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$13.4K$13.4K
-60.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$49.19$49.19
-26.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$44.15$44.15
-9.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$86.5$86.5
-8.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$95.2$95.2
-9.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,591$1,591
-38.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,339$1,339
-64.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$2,662$2,662
-40.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,225$2,225
-45.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$2,348$2,348
71.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,065$2,065
218.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.61
72.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Pikeville, KY: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,591 in Pikeville, KY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $79 in Pikeville, KY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $397 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Pikeville, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Pikeville, KY compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, $2,577 in Pikeville, KY – roughly 104% apart. Pikeville, KY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Pikeville, KY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,865 in Pikeville, KY. 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 Pikeville, KY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, 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 Pikeville, KY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $2,577 in Pikeville, KY. 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 Pikeville, KY?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,264 in Pikeville, KY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Pikeville, KY at $2,577. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pikeville, KY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Pikeville, KY?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $2,577 in Pikeville, KY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Pikeville, KY?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pikeville, KY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared