😐A single person spends $1,474 per month in Yangsan vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Yangsan vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Yangsan vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Yangsan costs about 17% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Yangsan sits 11% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.28₩10.5K
$11.72MX$204
-37.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.42₩52.6K
$41.89MX$731
-13.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13₩8,855
$10.51MX$183
-41.67%
Cappuccino
$4.19₩6,047
$3.59MX$62.5
16.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89₩2,733
$1.51MX$26.31
25.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32₩1,912
$0.92MX$15.96
43.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59₩5,185
$2.96MX$51.6
21.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01₩8,672
$4.41MX$76.9
36.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33₩3,360
$1.40MX$24.35
66.43%
White Bread(500g)
$3.51₩5,062
$1.88MX$32.87
86.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07₩4,426
$1.56MX$27.19
96.79%
Eggs
$2.97₩4,284
$2.61MX$45.50
13.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.30₩14.9K
$8.32MX$145
23.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.40₩12.1K
$8.35MX$146
0.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.26₩39.4K
$10.86MX$189
151.01%
Apples(1kg)
$8.43₩12.2K
$2.71MX$47.31
211.07%
Banana(1kg)
$3.25₩4,692
$1.51MX$26.25
115.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.18₩10.4K
$1.87MX$32.67
283.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.33₩7,693
$2.19MX$38.19
143.38%
Potato(1kg)
$5.08₩7,331
$1.86MX$32.40
173.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95₩4,259
$2.23MX$38.90
32.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03₩2,927
$1.07MX$18.63
89.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21₩1,751
$1.09MX$18.94
11.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40₩4,903
$4.19MX$73.0
-18.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.11₩24.7K
$10.43MX$182
64.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74₩2,514
$1.66MX$28.91
4.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41₩4,929
$2.61MX$45.56
30.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11₩1,607
$0.54MX$9.45
105.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$456
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48₩5,025
$3.08MX$53.7
12.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78₩1,128
$2.40MX$41.94
-67.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.58₩23.9K
$3.13MX$54.5
429.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₩1,703
$1.31MX$22.87
-9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K₩40.0M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-7.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K₩36.0M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
6.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193₩278.7K
$81.3MX$1,418
137.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3₩72.6K
$22.56MX$393
122.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.95₩40.3K
$30.05MX$524
-6.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.24₩69.6K
$52.9MX$923
-8.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.17₩16.1K
$4.92MX$85.8
127.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$496₩716.2K
$201MX$3,502
147.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K₩20.2M
$5,175MX$90.2K
169.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102₩146.7K
$35.92MX$627
182.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.19₩68.1K
$40.13MX$700
17.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3₩126.1K
$79.7MX$1,390
9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120₩172.9K
$86.5MX$1,508
38.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459₩662.8K
$978MX$17.1K
-53.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377₩544.1K
$470MX$8,206
-19.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,070₩1.5M
$1,651MX$28.8K
-35.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768₩1.1M
$1,203MX$21.0K
-36.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,304₩9.1M
$3,953MX$69.0K
59.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,219₩7.5M
$6,607MX$115.2K
-21.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yangsan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,487₩2.1M
$677MX$11.8K
119.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.22
11.42
-63.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yangsan: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Yangsan versus $978 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 120% higher in Yangsan, 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 $36.00 in Yangsan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Yangsan vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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
Yangsan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Yangsan?
Yes – Yangsan is pricier by about 17%, 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 $2,211 per month in Yangsan and $1,890 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 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 Yangsan and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,474 in Yangsan and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Yangsan and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Yangsan or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Yangsan at $1,474. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yangsan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yangsan or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Yangsan 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 – 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, Yangsan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.