๐A single person spends $1,696 per month in ล kofja Loka vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,567 per month in ล kofja Loka vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,438 per month in ล kofja Loka vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐ล kofja Loka costs about 33% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐ล kofja Loka sits 26% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.92โฌ11.99
$11.87MX$204
17.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8โฌ50.7
$42.90MX$736
37.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.15โฌ7.88
$10.65MX$183
-14.08%
Cappuccino
$2.64โฌ2.28
$3.45MX$59.2
-23.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11โฌ2.68
$1.50MX$25.81
107.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00โฌ1.72
$0.95MX$16.28
110.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43โฌ2.95
$3.03MX$51.9
13.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57โฌ3.94
$4.61MX$79.1
-0.87%
๐ Groceries & Markets
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31โฌ1.13
$1.38MX$23.61
-5.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67โฌ1.44
$1.85MX$31.70
-9.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.78โฌ2.40
$1.61MX$27.65
72.67%
Eggs
$3.40โฌ2.93
$2.59MX$44.51
31.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.86โฌ16.25
$8.26MX$142
128.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.22โฌ8.80
$8.37MX$144
22.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.72โฌ13.55
$10.66MX$183
47.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01โฌ1.73
$2.63MX$45.12
-23.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.47
$1.49MX$25.53
14.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23โฌ1.92
$1.92MX$32.94
16.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52โฌ3.03
$2.09MX$35.81
68.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38โฌ1.19
$1.86MX$31.88
-25.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61โฌ1.39
$2.26MX$38.81
-28.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66โฌ1.43
$1.06MX$18.23
56.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00โฌ0.86
$1.09MX$18.67
-8.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90โฌ5.09
$4.15MX$71.2
42.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.81โฌ5.87
$10.39MX$178
-34.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45โฌ1.25
$1.72MX$29.59
-15.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00โฌ1.73
$2.61MX$44.85
-23.37%
๐ Getting Around
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.44โฌ1.24
$0.54MX$9.30
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.00โฌ27.57
$26.94MX$462
18.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.77โฌ1.53
$3.13MX$53.7
-43.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11โฌ0.96
$2.51MX$43.09
-55.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.70โฌ16.97
$3.15MX$54.1
525.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66โฌ1.43
$1.27MX$21.88
30.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6Kโฌ22.1K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-15.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0Kโฌ25.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
23.07%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287โฌ247
$83.0MX$1,425
246.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.68โฌ12.65
$22.71MX$390
-35.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.26โฌ32.97
$29.46MX$506
29.87%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.8โฌ43.79
$51.0MX$875
-0.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.30โฌ7.15
$4.93MX$84.5
68.36%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$514โฌ443
$197MX$3,386
160.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,589โฌ7,400
$5,280MX$90.6K
62.68%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115โฌ99.4
$36.90MX$633
212.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14โฌ38.89
$39.89MX$685
13.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119โฌ103
$80.0MX$1,373
49.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141โฌ121
$89.5MX$1,536
57.19%
๐ Accommodation & Living
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675โฌ582
$956MX$16.4K
-29.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534โฌ460
$477MX$8,189
11.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,132โฌ975
$1,646MX$28.3K
-31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$946โฌ815
$1,225MX$21.0K
-22.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,251โฌ2,801
$3,918MX$67.2K
-17.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,706โฌ3,193
$6,459MX$110.9K
-42.63%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
ล kofja Loka
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
11.42
-68.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for ล kofja Loka: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $675 in ล kofja Loka versus $956 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in ล kofja Loka versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $250 โ 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
ล kofja Loka vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than ล kofja Loka?
Yes โ ล kofja Loka is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,543 per month in ล kofja Loka and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 ล kofja Loka vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,696 in ล kofja Loka and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 19% 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 ล kofja Loka or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in ล kofja Loka at $1,696. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in ล kofja Loka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is ล kofja Loka or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, ล kofja Loka or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ 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, ล kofja Loka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
ล kofja Loka vs other spots: cost of living compared