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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $130 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $220 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $309 in Siaya, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 877% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$0.76 KES 98.4

81.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$0.45 KES 58.1

311.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$1.26 KES 163

27.78%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$1.69 KES 220

53.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$9.42 KES 1,221

-12.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$5.49 KES 712

52.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$3.90 KES 506

173.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$1.83 KES 237

43.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$1.04 KES 135

43.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$1.58 KES 205

21.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$0.94 KES 122

122.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$0.80 KES 103

132.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$0.84 KES 108

169.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.51 KES 66.4

113.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

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 7, 2026

Last update for Siaya: June 9, 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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 877%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $195 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $130 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siaya, where all-in costs run around $130, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Siaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.