Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Topeka, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Topeka, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,876 in Topeka, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,023 in Topeka, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,169 in Topeka, KS, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 33% cheaper than Topeka, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Topeka, KS is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 MX$208

$13.71 $13.71

-12.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 MX$730

$53.4 $53.4

-21.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 MX$181

$9.87 $9.87

5.57%

Cappuccino

$3.51 MX$61.2

$3.55 $3.55

-1.13%

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

$1.52 MX$26.39

$2.22 $2.22

-31.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.85

$1.52 $1.52

-40.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$52.9

$5.09 $5.09

-40.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$76.1

$5.98 $5.98

-26.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MX$24.73

$0.84 $0.84

69.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.87

$3.20 $3.20

-42.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.45

$2.18 $2.18

-25.23%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.20

$4.30 $4.30

-40.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 MX$149

$8.72 $8.72

-1.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$148

$11.06 $11.06

-23.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 MX$188

$12.95 $12.95

-16.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$5.59 $5.59

-50.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.00

$1.96 $1.96

-26.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.84

$4.64 $4.64

-59.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.77

$4.19 $4.19

-48.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.97

$3.78 $3.78

-52.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 MX$38.71

$2.47 $2.47

-10.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.60

$1.86 $1.86

-42.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.79

$0.98 $0.98

10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$72.2

$9.15 $9.15

-54.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MX$182

$12.01 $12.01

-12.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 MX$30.34

$1.74 $1.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.93

$1.70 $1.70

51.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.94

$4.40 $4.40

-88.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$452

$49.61 $49.61

-47.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 MX$55.9

$2.73 $2.73

17.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MX$43.55

$1.35 $1.35

85.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 MX$55.4

$33.18 $33.18

-90.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.87

$0.73 $0.73

72.60%

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

$29.7K MX$516.7K

$23.6K $23.6K

25.75%

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

$23.7K MX$412.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

-4.82%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$111 $111

-26.25%

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

$22.73 MX$396

$50.6 $50.6

-55.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 MX$512

$64.4 $64.4

-54.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$908

$57.7 $57.7

-9.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

$15.07 $15.07

22.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$85.9

$12.65 $12.65

-61.03%

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

$202 MX$3,512

$443 $443

-54.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,217 MX$90.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

-77.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$625

$22.19 $22.19

61.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$19.80 $19.80

103.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

$70.9 $70.9

12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,554

$80.9 $80.9

10.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 MX$16.5K

$763 $763

24.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,098

$856 $856

-45.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 MX$28.4K

$1,862 $1,862

-12.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 MX$20.8K

$1,811 $1,811

-34.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 MX$68.5K

$1,352 $1,352

190.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$111.9K

$1,348 $1,348

377.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

$3,491 $3,491

-81.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.11

86.91%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Last update for Topeka, KS: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $763 in Topeka, KS. 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 430% higher in Topeka, KS, 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 $53.0 in Topeka, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $338 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Topeka, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Topeka, KS is pricier by about 49%, 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 $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,815 in Topeka, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $1,876 in Topeka, KS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 91% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Topeka, KS at $1,876. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Topeka, KS 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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Topeka, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.