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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,869 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,475 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,081 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 208% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Reykjavik sits 190% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.43 ISK 3,418

$11.99 MX$210

128.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 ISK 17.7K

$41.78 MX$733

240.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.54 ISK 2,809

$10.75 MX$189

109.67%

Cappuccino

$6.05 ISK 754

$3.50 MX$61.3

72.86%

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

$3.22 ISK 402

$1.45 MX$25.41

122.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 314

$0.88 MX$15.52

186.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.93 ISK 1,611

$2.95 MX$51.7

338.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.39 ISK 1,420

$4.51 MX$79.1

152.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ISK 235

$1.43 MX$25.12

32.17%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 ISK 522

$1.84 MX$32.23

127.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 ISK 441

$1.57 MX$27.51

125.48%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

$2.51 MX$44.06

151.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.00 ISK 2,243

$8.28 MX$145

117.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.46 ISK 3,048

$8.43 MX$148

190.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.94 ISK 5,226

$10.68 MX$187

292.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 ISK 415

$2.61 MX$45.76

27.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 300

$1.44 MX$25.22

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ISK 377

$1.96 MX$34.41

54.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 ISK 639

$2.09 MX$36.74

145.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 ISK 455

$1.85 MX$32.47

97.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 302

$2.17 MX$38.02

11.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.17 ISK 394

$1.03 MX$18.09

207.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 241

$1.07 MX$18.84

80.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.76 ISK 1,714

$4.10 MX$72.0

235.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.67 ISK 2,825

$10.17 MX$178

122.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.75 ISK 467

$1.68 MX$29.38

123.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 ISK 406

$2.53 MX$44.31

28.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.30 ISK 661

$0.51 MX$8.93

939.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.2 ISK 11.0K

$26.04 MX$457

238.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ISK 811

$3.23 MX$56.7

101.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 ISK 321

$2.41 MX$42.19

6.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.4 ISK 10.8K

$3.23 MX$56.6

2575.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 ISK 314

$1.32 MX$23.17

90.91%

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

$47.7K ISK 5.9M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

60.76%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.5M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

119.11%

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

$87.1 ISK 10.9K

$82.0 MX$1,439

6.21%

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

$27.13 ISK 3,380

$22.95 MX$403

18.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 ISK 10.6K

$30.11 MX$528

183.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.0 ISK 10.5K

$52.0 MX$912

61.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.12 ISK 4,750

$18.53 MX$325

105.72%

Cinema Ticket

$17.35 ISK 2,162

$4.98 MX$87.3

248.39%

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

$319 ISK 39.8K

$197 MX$3,463

61.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K ISK 3.8M

$5,336 MX$93.6K

474.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

$35.60 MX$624

286.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.8 ISK 7,821

$40.33 MX$707

55.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.7K

$78.8 MX$1,381

131.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.5K

$88.9 MX$1,560

202.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ISK 280.8K

$947 MX$16.6K

137.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,008 ISK 250.2K

$474 MX$8,314

323.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,231 ISK 402.6K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

96.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,756 ISK 343.4K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

127.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,955 ISK 991.2K

$4,056 MX$71.1K

96.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,156 ISK 767.1K

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-4.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,438 ISK 553.0K

$654 MX$11.5K

578.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

11.42

-15.67%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,254 in Reykjavik versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. 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 579% higher in Reykjavik, 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 $142 in Reykjavik versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $593 vs $249 – 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

Reykjavik vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 208%, 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 $5,803 per month in Reykjavik and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $3,869 in Reykjavik and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 239% 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 $1,256, than in Reykjavik at $3,869. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik 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.

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.

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