Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $621 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,123 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 52% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 IQD 3,984

$11.94 MX$209

-74.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.37 IQD 14.9K

$42.75 MX$748

-73.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 IQD 6,963

$10.59 MX$185

-49.86%

Cappuccino

$1.49 IQD 1,948

$3.62 MX$63.4

-58.84%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$1.47 MX$25.69

-72.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 249

$0.94 MX$16.51

-79.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,886

$3.09 MX$54.1

-3.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,678

$4.46 MX$78.0

-37.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,785

$1.43 MX$24.94

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 983

$1.88 MX$32.97

-60.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,768

$1.63 MX$28.50

-17.18%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,284

$2.64 MX$46.26

-34.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 IQD 5,762

$8.21 MX$144

-46.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 IQD 6,621

$8.29 MX$145

-39.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 IQD 13.4K

$11.10 MX$194

-8.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,067

$2.65 MX$46.40

-69.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,201

$1.50 MX$26.26

-38.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,172

$1.99 MX$34.79

-55.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 787

$2.08 MX$36.33

-71.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 844

$1.79 MX$31.29

-64.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 816

$2.18 MX$38.09

-71.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 586

$1.08 MX$18.84

-58.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 859

$1.04 MX$18.15

-36.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 IQD 2,565

$3.97 MX$69.5

-50.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.02 IQD 9,199

$10.20 MX$179

-31.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,389

$1.73 MX$30.22

5.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 IQD 2,820

$2.50 MX$43.71

-14.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 474

$0.52 MX$9.07

-30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

$26.97 MX$472

13.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 IQD 2,542

$3.14 MX$55.0

-38.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 IQD 1,632

$2.40 MX$42.04

-47.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$3.09 MX$54.0

154.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 IQD 498

$1.27 MX$22.28

-70.08%

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

$9,902 IQD 13.0M

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-67.93%

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

$17.9K IQD 23.4M

$23.3K MX$408.0K

-23.32%

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

$37.55 IQD 49.2K

$82.0 MX$1,435

-54.21%

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

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

$22.45 MX$393

-23.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.47 IQD 50.4K

$29.66 MX$519

29.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.10 IQD 22.4K

$51.9 MX$908

-67.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.85 IQD 11.6K

$18.67 MX$327

-52.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 IQD 7,364

$4.97 MX$87.0

13.08%

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

$92.9 IQD 121.7K

$198 MX$3,462

-53.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$738 IQD 966.2K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

-86.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.20 IQD 26.5K

$36.34 MX$636

-44.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.87 IQD 40.4K

$40.05 MX$701

-22.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.14 IQD 26.4K

$79.9 MX$1,398

-74.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.08 IQD 32.9K

$88.9 MX$1,555

-71.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.2K

$963 MX$16.9K

-85.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 237.2K

$465 MX$8,133

-61.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.1K

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-84.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 IQD 261.0K

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-83.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$757 IQD 991.2K

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-80.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$302 IQD 395.4K

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-95.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 IQD 630.1K

$720 MX$12.6K

-33.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

11.42

-50.35%

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $963 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 50% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $251 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $931 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $92.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $621, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – 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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.