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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,496 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,470 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,444 in Selfoss, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 64% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Selfoss is 156% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$20.93 ISK 2,549

-43.24%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.60

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$12.41 ISK 1,512

-74.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.76 ISK 215

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$7.28 ISK 886

-69.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$4.49 ISK 546

-61.92%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$6.59 ISK 802

-58.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$17.00 ISK 2,071

-43.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$21.05 ISK 2,564

-57.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$34.45 ISK 4,196

-62.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$2.74 ISK 333

5.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$2.70 ISK 329

-44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$2.64 ISK 321

-18.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$7.04 ISK 857

-67.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$3.27 ISK 398

-39.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$2.17 ISK 264

-8.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$3.56 ISK 433

-65.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$1.42 ISK 173

-15.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$15.55 ISK 1,894

-70.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$1.18 ISK 144

144.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$2,832 ISK 344.9K

-86.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: September 12, 2026

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 Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Selfoss is pricier by about 176%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,244 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $3,496 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Selfoss, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Selfoss at $3,496. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Selfoss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.