Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yamaguchi and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living costs are similar in Yamaguchi and in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 and $1,204 a month, rent and utilities included.

Yamaguchi, Japan
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Yamaguchi
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,202
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yamaguchi and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Yamaguchi and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Yamaguchi vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Yamaguchi $1,202
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $1,849 per month in Yamaguchi vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Yamaguchi $1,849
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $2,495 per month in Yamaguchi vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Yamaguchi $2,495
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Yamaguchi and Playa del Carmen have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Yamaguchi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yamaguchi 12% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.80 ¥600
$10.92 MX$204
-65.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.96 ¥5,047
$43.37 MX$808
-26.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.02 ¥793
$11.78 MX$220
-57.39%
Cappuccino
$3.71 ¥586
$3.81 MX$71.0
-2.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ¥166
$1.28 MX$23.90
-17.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ¥118
$0.78 MX$14.59
-3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.88 ¥612
$3.17 MX$59.0
22.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ¥349
$4.93 MX$92.0
-55.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ¥245
$1.41 MX$26.22
9.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ¥288
$2.22 MX$41.33
-17.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.61 ¥1,044
$1.42 MX$26.42
365.49%
Eggs
$2.21 ¥349
$2.52 MX$47.03
-12.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.53 ¥2,926
$7.26 MX$135
155.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.28 ¥833
$7.70 MX$143
-31.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.00 ¥3,001
$12.69 MX$237
49.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 ¥586
$2.78 MX$51.9
33.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 ¥295
$1.37 MX$25.50
36.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.82 ¥445
$2.55 MX$47.55
10.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.26 ¥515
$2.12 MX$39.58
53.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 ¥351
$1.94 MX$36.13
14.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 ¥401
$1.89 MX$35.16
34.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ¥171
$1.15 MX$21.37
-6.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ¥147
$1.18 MX$21.98
-21.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04 ¥638
$4.30 MX$80.1
-6.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 ¥979
$9.95 MX$185
-37.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥263
$1.58 MX$29.52
5.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ¥302
$2.67 MX$49.79
-28.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 ¥234
$0.55 MX$10.31
169.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.8 ¥8,016
$26.62 MX$496
90.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.00 ¥631
$4.97 MX$92.6
-19.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 ¥382
$3.33 MX$62.1
-27.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.73 ¥2,799
$5.36 MX$99.8
230.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 ¥169
$1.44 MX$26.92
-25.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ¥3.6M
$20.7K MX$385.2K
9.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K ¥2.4M
$23.5K MX$437.4K
-34.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 ¥33.8K
$84.8 MX$1,581
152.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.94 ¥3,938
$23.41 MX$436
6.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.47 ¥5,284
$28.66 MX$534
16.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 ¥8,321
$57.1 MX$1,063
-7.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.67 ¥2,000
$5.14 MX$95.8
146.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$695 ¥109.8K
$207 MX$3,851
236.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ¥1.9M
$3,927 MX$73.2K
208.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.71 ¥7,690
$43.35 MX$808
12.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.97 ¥4,101
$41.44 MX$772
-37.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.8 ¥10.4K
$74.2 MX$1,383
-11.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.76 ¥7,541
$89.3 MX$1,664
-46.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$409 ¥64.6K
$980 MX$18.3K
-58.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$256 ¥40.4K
$381 MX$7,099
-32.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 ¥127.2K
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-52.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 ¥90.3K
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-46.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,869 ¥768.8K
$3,943 MX$73.5K
23.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,007 ¥316.8K
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-67.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yamaguchi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$735 MX$13.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.97
11.45
-82.79%

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

Last update for Yamaguchi: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Yamaguchi
$317
Playa del Carmen
$255 19.7% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yamaguchi
$272
Playa del Carmen
$137 49.8% $136
Accommodation & Living
Yamaguchi
$256
Playa del Carmen
$381 48.9% $125
Eating Out
Yamaguchi
$121
Playa del Carmen
$202 67.3% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Yamaguchi
$85
Playa del Carmen
$112 31.8% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Yamaguchi
$78
Playa del Carmen
$67 13.7% $11
Getting Around
Yamaguchi
$73
Playa del Carmen
$50 30.7% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Yamaguchi versus $980 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Yamaguchi versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Yamaguchi vs $255 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Yamaguchi
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
23:08 11:08 PM
09:08 9:08 AM
14 h behind Yamaguchi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
193,966
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yamaguchi Playa del Carmen 12,680 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Yamaguchi
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Yamaguchi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,803 per month in Yamaguchi and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Yamaguchi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $409 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
How do food prices compare in Yamaguchi and in Playa del Carmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $695 per month in Yamaguchi and $207 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Yamaguchi or in Playa del Carmen?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,202 in Yamaguchi and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Yamaguchi or in Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Yamaguchi to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Yamaguchi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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