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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,462 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,428 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,394 in Selfoss, rent included.

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

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Selfoss is 160% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$20.38 ISK 2,519

-48.43%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$11.83 ISK 1,462

-74.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.74 ISK 215

-19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$7.09 ISK 876

-73.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$4.28 ISK 529

-63.55%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$6.43 ISK 795

-59.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$16.96 ISK 2,096

-50.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$20.63 ISK 2,549

-59.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$32.75 ISK 4,047

-66.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$2.69 ISK 333

0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$2.65 ISK 328

-43.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$2.61 ISK 323

-28.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$7.27 ISK 898

-69.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$3.18 ISK 393

-41.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$2.07 ISK 256

7.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$3.56 ISK 440

-69.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.38 ISK 171

-21.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$15.41 ISK 1,904

-72.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$1.14 ISK 141

128.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

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

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

-83.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: July 25, 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 175%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,192 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $3,462 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 101% 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 $1,260, than in Selfoss at $3,462. 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.