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 $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $315 in Yona, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $677 in Yona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,039 in Yona, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 300% 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$20.11 $20.11

-41.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$79.4 $79.4

-47.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$11.77 $11.77

-11.64%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$6.09 $6.09

-40.72%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$1.96 $1.96

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$1.51 $1.51

-39.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$4.90 $4.90

-38.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$7.02 $7.02

-36.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$24.1K $24.1K

-2.52%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

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

$22.21 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

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

$198 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$3,207 $3,207

-77.73%

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 19, 2026

Last update for Yona: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $0 in Yona. 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 349% 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 in Playa del Carmen versus $79 in Yona. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $0 in Yona – so Yona 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 Yona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 300%, 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $473 in Yona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $315 in Yona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yona, where all-in costs run around $315, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Yona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.