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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $321 per month in Yona vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $687 per month in Yona vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,053 per month in Yona vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yona is about 75% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yona and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yona 76% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$11.73 MX$205

71.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$41.62 MX$727

93.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.64 MX$186

12.50%

Cappuccino

$6.06 $6.06

$3.52 MX$61.5

72.16%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$1.51 MX$26.37

35.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.97 MX$17.00

58.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$2.95 MX$51.5

66.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$4.45 MX$77.8

52.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$24.16

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$33.04

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.59

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$146

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$146

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.48

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.45

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$33.19

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.26

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$31.01

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.16

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$71.3

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.90

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$57.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.83

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

$30.3K MX$528.8K

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$23.4K MX$409.2K

2.01%

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

$82.9 MX$1,447

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

$22.22 MX$388

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$512

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$902

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$320

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$88.5

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

$201 MX$3,507

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$91.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$645

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$695

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,370

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,521

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$17.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,169

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,206 $3,206

$664 MX$11.6K

382.92%

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 Yona: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 383% 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 $81.0 in Yona versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 303%, 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 $482 per month in Yona and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $321 in Yona and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Yona and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $321, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.