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 $606 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $860 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $2,990 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 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 IQD 4,024

$11.72 MX$203

-73.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 IQD 15.2K

$41.89 MX$725

-72.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 IQD 6,651

$10.51 MX$182

-51.67%

Cappuccino

$1.47 IQD 1,930

$3.59 MX$62.0

-59.05%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$1.51 MX$26.10

-73.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 260

$0.92 MX$15.83

-78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 IQD 3,875

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,868

$4.41 MX$76.3

-33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 IQD 1,735

$1.40 MX$24.16

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$1.88 MX$32.60

-59.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 IQD 1,759

$1.56 MX$26.97

-14.10%

Eggs

$1.81 IQD 2,367

$2.61 MX$45.14

-30.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 IQD 5,913

$8.32 MX$144

-45.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 IQD 6,414

$8.35 MX$145

-41.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 IQD 13.7K

$10.86 MX$188

-3.96%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 999

$2.71 MX$46.93

-71.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,169

$1.51 MX$26.04

-41.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,270

$1.87 MX$32.41

-48.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 780

$2.19 MX$37.89

-72.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 846

$1.86 MX$32.14

-65.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 836

$2.23 MX$38.59

-71.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 IQD 640

$1.07 MX$18.48

-54.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 IQD 871

$1.09 MX$18.79

-39.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,443

$4.19 MX$72.4

-55.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.72 IQD 4,870

$10.43 MX$180

-64.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,308

$1.66 MX$28.68

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,715

$2.61 MX$45.19

-20.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.54 MX$9.37

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.61 IQD 40.1K

$26.16 MX$453

17.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 IQD 2,589

$3.08 MX$53.3

-35.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 IQD 1,559

$2.40 MX$41.61

-50.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 IQD 9,993

$3.13 MX$54.1

143.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.39 IQD 506

$1.31 MX$22.69

-70.23%

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

$9,833 IQD 12.9M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-67.01%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-22.11%

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

$38.45 IQD 50.4K

$81.3 MX$1,406

-52.69%

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

$17.23 IQD 22.6K

$22.56 MX$390

-23.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.07 IQD 49.8K

$30.05 MX$520

26.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.81 IQD 22.0K

$52.9 MX$915

-68.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.99 IQD 11.8K

$18.39 MX$318

-51.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.47 IQD 7,167

$4.92 MX$85.1

11.18%

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

$92.0 IQD 120.5K

$201 MX$3,474

-54.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$743 IQD 973.4K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-85.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

$35.92 MX$622

-44.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 IQD 40.2K

$40.13 MX$694

-23.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.23 IQD 26.5K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-74.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.24 IQD 33.1K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-70.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 IQD 183.4K

$978 MX$16.9K

-85.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.9K

$470 MX$8,140

-62.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.3K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-85.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 IQD 266.1K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-83.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$389 IQD 509.3K

$677 MX$11.7K

-42.52%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Ad Diwaniyah 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 74% 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 $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $252 – 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 108%, 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 $909 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,890 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 $92.0 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $201 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 65% 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 $606, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.