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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,564 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,499 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,435 in Selfoss, rent included.

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

Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Selfoss is 166% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$20.26 ISK 2,481

-47.73%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$12.03 ISK 1,473

-74.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.74 ISK 213

-17.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$7.26 ISK 889

-74.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$4.53 ISK 555

-64.02%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$6.29 ISK 770

-58.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$16.50 ISK 2,021

-50.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$20.92 ISK 2,561

-60.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$33.41 ISK 4,091

-66.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$2.70 ISK 331

-1.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$2.62 ISK 320

-42.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$2.57 ISK 314

-22.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$7.17 ISK 878

-70.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$3.19 ISK 391

-43.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$2.05 ISK 251

6.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$3.52 ISK 431

-69.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$1.38 ISK 169

-24.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$14.96 ISK 1,832

-73.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

$1.15 ISK 140

117.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$2,864 ISK 350.7K

-83.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: April 28, 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 177%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,346 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $3,564 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 103% 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 $1,287, than in Selfoss at $3,564. 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.