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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $678 in Shymkent, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,076 in Shymkent, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,473 in Shymkent, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 85% more than Shymkent, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Shymkent are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Shymkent 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$9.93 ₸4,669

20.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$19.90 ₸9,353

109.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$6.99 ₸3,287

53.79%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$1.85 ₸868

89.19%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.99 ₸467

46.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.41 ₸192

114.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.15 ₸542

156.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$1.91 ₸898

136.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.15 ₸541

24.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.30 ₸142

513.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.63 ₸767

-3.68%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.44 ₸676

74.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$7.92 ₸3,724

4.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$4.18 ₸1,967

101.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$6.47 ₸3,042

65.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$0.96 ₸450

171.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$1.78 ₸837

-19.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.91 ₸896

2.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.02 ₸480

104.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.48 ₸224

285.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$0.38 ₸178

471.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$0.79 ₸373

30.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.69 ₸322

55.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$1.99 ₸937

106.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$4.33 ₸2,034

134.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$0.94 ₸443

78.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$1.33 ₸627

90.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.14 ₸64.0

264.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$0.89 ₸418

262.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.62 ₸294

288.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$5.80 ₸2,724

-44.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$0.50 ₸234

164.00%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$19.3K ₸9.1M

53.73%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$23.9K ₸11.2M

-0.94%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$50.4 ₸23.7K

62.59%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$8.64 ₸4,060

165.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$12.73 ₸5,981

136.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$33.03 ₸15.5K

57.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$7.81 ₸3,670

137.26%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$5.04 ₸2,367

-1.19%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$48.24 ₸22.7K

309.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$4,849 ₸2.3M

10.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$33.02 ₸15.5K

7.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$29.87 ₸14.0K

35.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$120 ₸56.4K

-34.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$46.86 ₸22.0K

89.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$297 ₸139.7K

218.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$174 ₸81.7K

172.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$475 ₸223.2K

246.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$365 ₸171.5K

231.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$1,039 ₸488.5K

290.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$935 ₸439.7K

591.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$415 ₸195.2K

57.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

19.5

-41.44%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shymkent: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $297 in Shymkent. 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 57% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.00 in Shymkent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $149 – making Shymkent the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Shymkent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 85%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,018 in Shymkent. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shymkent, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $678 in Shymkent. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $48.24 in Shymkent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shymkent, where all-in costs run around $678, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Shymkent it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shymkent – 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 Shymkent. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.