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.

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

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

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

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

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

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

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

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: 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.