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 $943 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,496 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,050 per month in AL Kharj vs $3,017 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 29% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.31

$11.99 MX$210

-46.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 SAR 100

$41.78 MX$733

-36.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 SAR 30.13

$10.75 MX$189

-25.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

Cappuccino

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$3.50 MX$61.3

-30.00%

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

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$1.45 MX$25.41

-46.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.47

$0.88 MX$15.52

-85.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.43 MX$25.12

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$1.84 MX$32.23

-85.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 SAR 9.00

$1.57 MX$27.51

52.87%

Eggs

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$2.51 MX$44.06

-22.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 SAR 31.90

$8.28 MX$145

2.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 SAR 19.24

$8.43 MX$148

-39.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 SAR 50.8

$10.68 MX$187

26.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 SAR 7.55

$2.61 MX$45.76

-22.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$1.44 MX$25.22

-14.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.96 MX$34.41

-51.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$2.09 MX$36.74

-37.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 SAR 3.40

$1.85 MX$32.47

-51.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$2.17 MX$38.02

-55.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$1.03 MX$18.09

-24.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$1.07 MX$18.84

-52.34%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 SAR 24.72

$4.10 MX$72.0

60.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.95

$0.51 MX$8.93

105.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.90 SAR 150

$26.04 MX$457

53.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 SAR 10.25

$3.23 MX$56.7

-15.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$2.41 MX$42.19

-77.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$3.23 MX$56.6

320.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$1.32 MX$23.17

-51.52%

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

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

16.41%

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

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-3.20%

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

$105 SAR 393

$82.0 MX$1,439

27.70%

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

$27.04 SAR 102

$22.95 MX$403

17.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.84 SAR 187

$30.11 MX$528

65.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 SAR 253

$52.0 MX$912

29.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.77 SAR 153

$18.53 MX$325

120.02%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 SAR 61.2

$4.98 MX$87.3

227.11%

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

$179 SAR 671

$197 MX$3,463

-9.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-29.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$35.60 MX$624

67.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 SAR 204

$40.33 MX$707

34.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 SAR 201

$78.8 MX$1,381

-31.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 SAR 305

$88.9 MX$1,560

-8.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 SAR 2,454

$947 MX$16.6K

-31.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 SAR 875

$474 MX$8,314

-50.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SAR 1,819

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-70.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 SAR 1,847

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-59.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

$654 MX$11.5K

333.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

11.42

-53.50%

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

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in AL Kharj versus $947 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 333% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $249 – 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: $943 in AL Kharj, $1,256 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 $1,414 per month in AL Kharj and $1,884 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 $179 per month in AL Kharj and $197 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 46% 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 $943, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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 $943 in AL Kharj to $1,256 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.