๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $122 in Ajdabiya versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $197 in Ajdabiya versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $271 in Ajdabiya versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Ajdabiya costs roughly 90% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Ajdabiya91% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.94MX$209
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.75MX$748
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.59MX$185
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.62MX$63.4
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.47MX$25.69
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.94MX$16.51
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09MX$54.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.46MX$78.0
-
๐ Groceries & Markets
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.43MX$24.94
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.88MX$32.97
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.63MX$28.50
-
Eggs
-
$2.64MX$46.26
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.21MX$144
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.29MX$145
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.15LYDย 51.7
$11.10MX$194
-26.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50LYDย 9.52
$2.65MX$46.40
-43.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07LYDย 6.79
$1.50MX$26.26
-28.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76LYDย 4.79
$1.99MX$34.79
-61.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47LYDย 3.00
$2.08MX$36.33
-77.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47LYDย 3.00
$1.79MX$31.29
-73.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47LYDย 2.99
$2.18MX$38.09
-78.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.08MX$18.84
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.18LYDย 1.13
$1.04MX$18.15
-82.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86LYDย 11.77
$3.97MX$69.5
-53.15%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.20MX$179
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73MX$30.22
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.50MX$43.71
-
๐ Getting Around
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95LYDย 6.04
$3.14MX$55.0
-69.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.40MX$42.04
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.09MX$54.0
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.27MX$22.28
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$82.0MX$1,435
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.45MX$393
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.66MX$519
-
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$908
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.97MX$87.0
-
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$198MX$3,462
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,273MX$92.3K
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.34MX$636
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.05MX$701
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.9MX$1,398
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.9MX$1,555
-
๐ Accommodation & Living
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126LYDย 802
$963MX$16.9K
-86.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.6LYDย 473
$465MX$8,133
-83.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273LYDย 1,728
$1,596MX$27.9K
-82.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145LYDย 919
$1,209MX$21.2K
-88.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Ajdabiya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ajdabiya: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Ajdabiya and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing 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
Ajdabiya vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ajdabiya or Playa del Carmen?
Ajdabiya wins on cost โ living expenses run 951% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ajdabiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ajdabiya vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $184 in Ajdabiya and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ajdabiya vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Ajdabiya versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ajdabiya or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 419% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ajdabiya compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $122 per month in Ajdabiya versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen โ a 951% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ajdabiya or Playa del Carmen?
At $122 in Ajdabiya versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ajdabiya but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ajdabiya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ajdabiya or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ajdabiya delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $122 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ajdabiya hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ajdabiya gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 951% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.