Cost of Living Comparison Between An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,508 per month in An Nasiriyah vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

An Nasiriyah is about 39% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – An Nasiriyah 41% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21 IQD 4,199
$11.73 MX$203
-72.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44 IQD 16.3K
$41.62 MX$720
-70.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.77 IQD 8,869
$10.64 MX$184
-36.37%
Cappuccino
$2.73 IQD 3,576
$3.52 MX$60.9
-22.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 IQD 478
$1.51 MX$26.12
-75.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 IQD 228
$0.97 MX$16.84
-82.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.45 IQD 4,521
$2.95 MX$51.0
16.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 IQD 3,812
$4.45 MX$77.0
-34.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 IQD 1,123
$1.38 MX$23.93
-37.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 IQD 1,014
$1.89 MX$32.72
-59.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 IQD 1,826
$1.64 MX$28.32
-15.24%
Eggs
$1.66 IQD 2,176
$2.51 MX$43.34
-33.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.16 IQD 4,138
$8.34 MX$144
-62.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 IQD 5,029
$8.34 MX$144
-53.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.78 IQD 11.5K
$10.73 MX$186
-18.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 IQD 1,671
$2.60 MX$45.04
-50.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 IQD 1,568
$1.46 MX$25.20
-17.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,055
$1.90 MX$32.87
-57.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 IQD 526
$2.08 MX$35.91
-80.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 IQD 536
$1.78 MX$30.71
-76.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 IQD 669
$2.19 MX$37.80
-76.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 IQD 676
$1.04 MX$17.99
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 IQD 565
$1.08 MX$18.62
-60.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.53 IQD 2,001
$4.08 MX$70.6
-62.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.56 IQD 17.8K
$10.32 MX$178
31.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 IQD 2,318
$1.71 MX$29.61
3.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 IQD 2,724
$2.58 MX$44.54
-19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 IQD 302
$0.51 MX$8.81
-54.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.81 IQD 40.4K
$26.46 MX$458
16.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 IQD 2,980
$3.26 MX$56.4
-30.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 IQD 2,020
$2.49 MX$43.09
-38.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 IQD 3,989
$3.25 MX$56.2
-6.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 IQD 707
$1.31 MX$22.61
-58.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K IQD 26.1M
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-34.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K IQD 20.0M
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-34.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 IQD 228.9K
$82.9 MX$1,433
110.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.39 IQD 34.6K
$22.22 MX$384
18.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.42 IQD 52.9K
$29.34 MX$507
37.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.82 IQD 24.6K
$51.6 MX$893
-63.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 IQD 21.9K
$18.32 MX$317
-8.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.66 IQD 10.0K
$5.07 MX$87.6
51.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$168 IQD 220.1K
$201 MX$3,473
-16.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,534 IQD 4.6M
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-32.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.66 IQD 15.3K
$36.92 MX$639
-68.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.08 IQD 39.4K
$39.79 MX$688
-24.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$26.92 IQD 35.3K
$78.5 MX$1,357
-65.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.21 IQD 50.0K
$87.1 MX$1,506
-56.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 IQD 323.6K
$973 MX$16.8K
-74.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 IQD 234.2K
$468 MX$8,090
-61.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 IQD 756.0K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-64.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 IQD 447.0K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-72.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
An Nasiriyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$776 IQD 1.0M
$664 MX$11.5K
16.90%
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 An Nasiriyah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in An Nasiriyah versus $973 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 17% higher in An Nasiriyah, 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 $12.00 in An Nasiriyah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $249 – making An Nasiriyah 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
An Nasiriyah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $792 in An Nasiriyah, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 64% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in An Nasiriyah compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,189 per month in An Nasiriyah and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in An Nasiriyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 16% less in An Nasiriyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $168 per month in An Nasiriyah and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $792 in An Nasiriyah to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between An Nasiriyah and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with An Nasiriyah. 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.

An Nasiriyah vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities