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 $315 per month in Yona vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $677 per month in Yona vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,039 per month in Yona vs $2,999 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 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.11 $20.11

$11.67 MX$202

72.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$41.88 MX$726

89.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$10.40 MX$180

13.17%

Cappuccino

$6.09 $6.09

$3.61 MX$62.6

68.70%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$1.47 MX$25.45

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.91 MX$15.80

65.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.03 MX$52.6

61.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$4.47 MX$77.4

57.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

2.59%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

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

$22.21 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

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

$198 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,207 $3,207

$714 MX$12.4K

349.12%

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Yona versus $977 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 349% 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 $79 in Yona versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $0 in Yona vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Yona 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 300%, 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 $473 per month in Yona and $1,891 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 $315 in Yona and $1,261 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 $79.0 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 $315, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.