😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,212 in Yamanashi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,893 in Yamanashi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,575 in Yamanashi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 4% more than Yamanashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Yamanashi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Yamanashi9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$8.28¥1,346
44.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$34.65¥5,629
20.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.36¥1,033
69.03%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$3.06¥496
14.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.17¥189
23.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.70¥114
25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$3.36¥545
-12.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.09¥502
45.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.06¥172
34.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.91¥148
102.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.35¥220
16.30%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.70¥277
47.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$13.95¥2,266
-40.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$5.79¥941
45.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$15.67¥2,547
-31.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$5.57¥904
-53.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$2.82¥457
-48.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.10¥341
-6.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$4.10¥667
-49.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.85¥300
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$2.60¥422
-16.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.20¥195
-14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.79¥128
35.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$3.52¥572
16.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$9.48¥1,540
7.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.87¥467
-41.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.32¥377
9.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.66¥269
-69.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$56.0¥9,094
-53.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$3.51¥571
-7.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$2.85¥464
-15.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$17.03¥2,767
-81.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.20¥195
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$23.1K¥3.7M
28.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$16.9K¥2.7M
39.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$141¥22.8K
-41.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$27.12¥4,406
-15.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$33.56¥5,452
-10.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$55.4¥9,003
-6.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$13.64¥2,217
35.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$12.55¥2,039
-60.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$475¥77.1K
-58.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$11.3K¥1.8M
-52.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$46.64¥7,578
-23.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$32.08¥5,213
25.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$56.2¥9,129
40.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$91.0¥14.8K
-2.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$471¥76.5K
101.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$329¥53.4K
44.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$852¥138.5K
92.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$660¥107.2K
83.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$3,735¥606.8K
8.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,143¥348.1K
201.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Yamanashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$4,537¥737.2K
-85.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
1.78
541.57%
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 Yamanashi: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $471 in Yamanashi. 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 594% higher in Yamanashi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Yamanashi. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $286 in Yamanashi – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Yamanashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yamanashi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 4%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,818 in Yamanashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yamanashi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Yamanashi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,212 in Yamanashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 115% less in Yamanashi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Yamanashi?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yamanashi, where all-in costs run around $1,212, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Yamanashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Yamanashi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yamanashi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Yamanashi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yamanashi. 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