🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,375 in Yokohama, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,131 in Yokohama, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,886 in Yokohama, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 8% cheaper than Yokohama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Yokohama is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$6.57¥1,026
76.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$42.14¥6,575
11.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$5.24¥818
126.72%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$3.58¥558
11.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$1.12¥175
27.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.76¥119
7.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$2.65¥413
20.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.16¥493
114.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.49¥233
12.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.76¥275
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$3.68¥575
-53.53%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$2.11¥329
29.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$11.95¥1,865
-19.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.13¥956
46.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$15.04¥2,346
-14.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$5.75¥897
-49.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.88¥450
-47.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$3.04¥474
-29.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$4.27¥666
-47.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$2.57¥401
-22.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$2.75¥428
-27.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$1.33¥208
-7.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.77¥120
55.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$3.93¥613
15.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.43¥1,003
61.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.84¥287
-11.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.07¥322
39.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$1.46¥227
-58.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$57.3¥8,932
-49.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$3.32¥518
62.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$2.65¥414
40.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$21.00¥3,276
-72.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.09¥170
41.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$21.8K¥3.4M
3.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$18.8K¥2.9M
38.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$138¥21.5K
-33.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$24.34¥3,798
3.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$32.91¥5,135
-5.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$52.9¥8,251
27.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$11.77¥1,837
147.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$12.82¥2,000
-62.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$654¥102.1K
-65.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$15.2K¥2.4M
-72.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$64.3¥10.0K
-26.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$33.86¥5,283
30.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$63.1¥9,849
26.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$104¥16.2K
-10.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$1,179¥184.0K
-9.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$458¥71.5K
-14.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$2,316¥361.4K
-7.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$884¥138.0K
43.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$6,991¥1.1M
-42.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$4,099¥639.5K
58.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$2,778¥433.4K
-72.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
2.12
440.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Yokohama: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,179 in Yokohama. 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 266% higher in Yokohama, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $42.00 in Yokohama. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Playa del Carmen vs $301 in Yokohama – 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 Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yokohama cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Yokohama is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,062 in Yokohama. 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Yokohama?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,375 in Yokohama. 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 99% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Yokohama?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Yokohama at $1,375. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokohama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Yokohama more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Yokohama?
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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yokohama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared