Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Richmond, KY

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,150 in Richmond, KY, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Richmond, KY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,150
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Richmond, KY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Richmond, KY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,150 in Richmond, KY, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Richmond, KY $2,150

A couple spends around $2,102 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,160 in Richmond, KY, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Richmond, KY $3,160

A family of three spends $3,000 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,170 in Richmond, KY, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Richmond, KY $4,170

Playa del Carmen is about 44% cheaper than Richmond, KY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Richmond, KY is 59% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$10.20 $10.20
6.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$39.35 $39.35
12.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$7.79 $7.79
50.96%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$5.30 $5.30
-30.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$2.84 $2.84
-52.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$2.76 $2.76
-70.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$6.33 $6.33
-51.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$6.62 $6.62
-25.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.09 $1.09
34.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$3.41 $3.41
-34.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$4.73 $4.73
-68.71%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$4.33 $4.33
-42.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$10.16 $10.16
-25.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$9.32 $9.32
-14.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$15.21 $15.21
-17.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$6.75 $6.75
-58.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$1.56 $1.56
-8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$2.75 $2.75
-4.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$5.50 $5.50
-61.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$2.23 $2.23
-9.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$4.31 $4.31
-53.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$2.26 $2.26
-49.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$2.18 $2.18
-44.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$9.18 $9.18
-53.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$14.96 $14.96
-33.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$1.93 $1.93
-20.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$3.09 $3.09
-13.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$1.03 $1.03
-48.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$5.06 $5.06
-3.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$1.57 $1.57
118.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$30.11 $30.11
-82.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$0.95 $0.95
52.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$28.3K $28.3K
-25.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$26.7K $26.7K
-13.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$217 $217
-60.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$72.2 $72.2
-67.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$53.9 $53.9
-47.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$35.42 $35.42
75.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$13.52 $13.52
-62.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$1,227 $1,227
-83.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$24.6K $24.6K
-83.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$50.5 $50.5
-12.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$44.12 $44.12
-6.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$110 $110
-33.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$123 $123
-27.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$1,160 $1,160
-15.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$963 $963
-61.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$2,038 $2,038
-17.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$1,733 $1,733
-36.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$1,969 $1,969
100.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$1,983 $1,983
209.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Richmond, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
$3,036 $3,036
-75.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.64
72.44%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Richmond, KY: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Richmond, KY
$963 158% $590
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Richmond, KY
$382 47.7% $123
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Richmond, KY
$236 17.8% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Richmond, KY
$343 150% $206
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Richmond, KY
$148 32.2% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Richmond, KY
$62 13.7% $9.9
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Richmond, KY
$17 * 67.1% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,160 in Richmond, KY. 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 312% higher in Richmond, KY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.00 in Richmond, KY. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Playa del Carmen vs $382 in Richmond, KY – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Richmond, KY
🕒 Local time
04:33 4:33 AM
05:33 5:33 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
226,610
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Richmond, KY 1,920 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Richmond, KY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Richmond, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richmond, KY cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Richmond, KY is pricier by about 79%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,225 in Richmond, KY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Richmond, KY?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,150 in Richmond, KY. That's a gap of about 79%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,227 in Richmond, KY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Richmond, KY?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Richmond, KY at $2,150. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Richmond, KY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Richmond, KY more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Richmond, KY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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