Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Yona Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Yona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $318 in Yona, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $683 in Yona, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,047 in Yona, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 296% more than Yona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Yona are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Yona 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 MX$209
$20.39 $20.39
-41.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94 MX$734
$78.7 $78.7
-46.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 MX$182
$11.82 $11.82
-11.84%
Cappuccino
$3.51 MX$61.5
$5.90 $5.90
-40.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MX$26.56
$1.94 $1.94
-21.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.95
$1.54 $1.54
-40.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 MX$53.2
$5.11 $5.11
-40.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 MX$76.5
$7.05 $7.05
-38.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$24.89
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$32.07
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.63
-
-
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.48
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 MX$150
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$149
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 MX$189
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$48.25
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.16
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 MX$33.04
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.01
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.17
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 MX$38.96
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.72
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.91
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$72.6
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.45 MX$183
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 MX$30.53
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$45.21
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.94 MX$454
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 MX$56.2
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.50 MX$43.83
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 MX$55.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$22.01
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$414.8K
$24.4K $24.4K
-2.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,437
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73 MX$398
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 MX$515
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$914
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$86.4
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,534
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,217 MX$91.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$629
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$706
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,399
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,564
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 MX$16.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,150
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 MX$28.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 MX$20.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,933 MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,428 MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Yona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$658 MX$11.5K
$3,248 $3,248
-79.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
-

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 Yona: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 393% higher in Yona, 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 $79.0 in Yona. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Yona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yona cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 296%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $477 in Yona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Yona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $318 in Yona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Yona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $79.0 in Yona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Yona?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yona, where all-in costs run around $318, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. In Yona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Yona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yona. 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

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