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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $166 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $267 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $368 in Siaya, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 674% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Siaya 88% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
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
-
-
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
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.79 KES 103
81.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.44 KES 57.4
327.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.26 KES 163
29.37%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.66 KES 214
59.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$9.32 KES 1,203
-11.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$5.30 KES 684
56.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$4.06 KES 524
173.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.88 KES 243
40.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.02 KES 132
47.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.54 KES 198
29.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$0.92 KES 119
126.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.79 KES 102
126.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.83 KES 107
162.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.55 KES 70.7
89.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$19.39 KES 2,503
-47.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
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
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
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
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
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
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
-
-
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Siaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
-

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 Siaya: April 27, 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 Siaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siaya cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 674%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $249 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Siaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $166 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Siaya?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Siaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siaya, where all-in costs run around $166, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Siaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Siaya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Siaya. 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.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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