Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $951 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,473 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,996 per month in AL Kharj vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

AL Kharj is about 25% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both AL Kharj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – AL Kharj 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 SAR 17.59

$11.60 MX$200

-59.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.80 SAR 101

$47.11 MX$812

-43.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 SAR 29.71

$11.88 MX$205

-33.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 SAR 7.79

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

Cappuccino

$3.07 SAR 11.53

$3.98 MX$68.6

-22.86%

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

$0.84 SAR 3.15

$1.43 MX$24.60

-41.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.48

$0.82 MX$14.22

-84.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 SAR 5.42

$1.68 MX$28.89

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$2.20 MX$37.88

-88.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.73

$1.71 MX$29.45

35.67%

Eggs

$2.07 SAR 7.78

$2.74 MX$47.26

-24.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 SAR 37.40

$9.58 MX$165

3.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 SAR 18.66

$9.01 MX$155

-44.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$12.81 MX$221

6.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

$2.89 MX$49.81

-39.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.90

$1.50 MX$25.81

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 SAR 4.59

$2.15 MX$37.03

-43.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.03

$2.26 MX$38.96

-40.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$1.98 MX$34.15

-47.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

$1.99 MX$34.30

-44.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 SAR 2.05

$1.23 MX$21.28

-55.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$1.20 MX$20.63

-50.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.15 SAR 8.09

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SAR 9.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$4.55 MX$78.5

44.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.75 SAR 85.4

$28.80 MX$497

-21.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 SAR 10.15

$5.39 MX$92.9

-49.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.05

$3.73 MX$64.3

-85.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.40 SAR 50.3

$5.77 MX$99.5

132.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$1.54 MX$26.48

-61.69%

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

$35.3K SAR 132.6K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

56.53%

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

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-16.06%

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

$102 SAR 384

$91.4 MX$1,576

11.90%

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

$27.14 SAR 102

$25.20 MX$435

7.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 SAR 193

$31.24 MX$539

64.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 SAR 277

$67.2 MX$1,159

9.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.56 SAR 152

$29.11 MX$502

39.33%

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 SAR 50.4

$4.86 MX$83.8

175.93%

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

$283 SAR 1,064

$224 MX$3,856

26.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,710 SAR 13.9K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-12.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$47.10 MX$812

26.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 SAR 199

$44.29 MX$764

19.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.69 SAR 175

$80.1 MX$1,381

-41.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 SAR 299

$92.7 MX$1,598

-13.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$676 SAR 2,539

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-36.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 SAR 976

$390 MX$6,728

-33.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 SAR 2,219

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-72.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 SAR 1,756

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-63.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,869 SAR 10.8K

$758 MX$13.1K

278.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

11.45

-51.62%

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

Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $676 in AL Kharj versus $1,063 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 278% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $27.00 in AL Kharj versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $276 – making AL Kharj 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $951 in AL Kharj, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 33% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in AL Kharj and $1,899 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 AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $283 per month in AL Kharj and $224 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 60% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $951 in AL Kharj to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with AL Kharj. 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.