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 $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,518 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,483 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,447 in Selfoss, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 63% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Selfoss is 164% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

$20.10 ISK 2,498

-48.21%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

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

$1.46 MX$25.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

$11.98 ISK 1,489

-75.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$1.73 ISK 214

-17.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$7.26 ISK 902

-73.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$4.43 ISK 551

-64.56%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$6.17 ISK 766

-57.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$16.57 ISK 2,059

-49.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$20.62 ISK 2,562

-58.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

$32.37 ISK 4,022

-66.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

$2.74 ISK 340

-1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$2.57 ISK 320

-41.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

$2.62 ISK 326

-27.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

$7.12 ISK 885

-69.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

$3.09 ISK 384

-39.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

$2.07 ISK 257

7.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$3.48 ISK 432

-68.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$1.34 ISK 166

-20.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$15.27 ISK 1,897

-72.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

$1.14 ISK 141

121.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

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

$30.2K MX$518.8K

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

$23.4K MX$402.5K

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

$81.4 MX$1,400

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

$22.41 MX$386

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

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

$202 MX$3,471

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

$2,897 ISK 359.9K

-83.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: June 15, 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 172%, 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,278 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $3,518 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 98% 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 $1,294, than in Selfoss at $3,518. 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.