Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Bayda and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Bayda and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $10.16 in Al Bayda versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $16.00 in Al Bayda versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $21.12 in Al Bayda versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Al Bayda costs roughly 99% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Bayda 99% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$787

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.1

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

$1.37 MX$23.21

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.16

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.17

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 LYD 10.21

$1.77 MX$29.88

-9.04%

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.14

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.52

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.89

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 LYD 1.87

$2.26 MX$38.23

-86.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 LYD 2.89

$2.00 MX$33.84

-77.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.12

$2.06 MX$34.86

-76.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.92

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.3

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.65

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.23

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

$22.3K MX$377.0K

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

$14.0K LYD 88.7K

$25.9K MX$438.2K

-46.03%

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

$89.1 MX$1,505

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

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,145

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.3

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

$225 MX$3,798

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,844

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Al Bayda: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

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

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

Al Bayda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 12631% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $15.24 in Al Bayda and $1,940 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2589% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $10.16 per month in Al Bayda versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 12631% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $10.16 in Al Bayda versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Bayda but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Al Bayda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al Bayda is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Al Bayda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12631% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.