😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,208 in Ashdod versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,439 in Ashdod versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,669 in Ashdod versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Ashdod is roughly 70% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ashdod is 65% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.29₪72.0
$11.73MX$203
115.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.7₪281
$41.62MX$720
137.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.28₪43.50
$10.64MX$184
43.61%
Cappuccino
$3.71₪10.57
$3.52MX$60.9
5.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73₪7.78
$1.51MX$26.12
80.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03₪5.78
$0.97MX$16.84
109.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.52₪24.25
$2.95MX$51.0
188.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.90₪25.33
$4.45MX$77.0
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₪5.40
$1.38MX$23.93
37.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54₪7.24
$1.89MX$32.72
34.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.41₪6.87
$1.64MX$28.32
46.95%
Eggs
$4.07₪11.58
$2.51MX$43.34
62.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83₪53.6
$8.34MX$144
125.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.86₪30.93
$8.34MX$144
30.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.42₪49.60
$10.73MX$186
62.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10₪8.84
$2.60MX$45.04
19.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01₪5.73
$1.46MX$25.20
37.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₪5.27
$1.90MX$32.87
-2.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95₪5.56
$2.08MX$35.91
-6.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40₪3.99
$1.78MX$30.71
-21.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23₪3.51
$2.19MX$37.80
-43.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91₪5.44
$1.04MX$17.99
83.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30₪3.69
$1.08MX$18.62
20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.40₪32.45
$4.08MX$70.6
179.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.92₪39.64
$10.32MX$178
34.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34₪6.66
$1.71MX$29.61
36.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93₪8.33
$2.58MX$44.54
13.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65₪4.70
$0.51MX$8.81
223.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.8₪193
$26.46MX$458
156.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.98₪17.04
$3.26MX$56.4
83.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54₪1.55
$2.49MX$43.09
-78.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.44₪127
$3.25MX$56.2
1267.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97₪5.60
$1.31MX$22.61
50.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K₪111.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
29.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K₪117.9K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
76.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260₪739
$82.9MX$1,433
213.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.05₪31.45
$22.22MX$384
-50.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.14₪91.5
$29.34MX$507
9.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.3₪192
$51.6MX$893
30.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.22₪43.34
$18.32MX$317
-16.92%
Cinema Ticket
$12.41₪35.33
$5.07MX$87.6
144.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835₪2,378
$201MX$3,473
315.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K₪33.1K
$5,212MX$90.1K
122.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113₪322
$36.92MX$639
206.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.7₪156
$39.79MX$688
37.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123₪351
$78.5MX$1,357
57.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$195₪554
$87.1MX$1,506
123.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,527₪4,348
$973MX$16.8K
57.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807₪2,298
$468MX$8,090
72.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,515₪4,314
$1,641MX$28.4K
-7.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,432₪4,078
$1,221MX$21.1K
17.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,388₪23.9K
$3,946MX$68.3K
112.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,079₪17.3K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-6.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,523₪12.9K
$664MX$11.5K
581.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.42
-69.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashdod: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,527 in Ashdod and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashdod pays 581% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $99.0 in Ashdod vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Ashdod vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ashdod?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ashdod or Playa del Carmen?
Ashdod pays 581% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ashdod and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,527 in Ashdod versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $835 in Ashdod versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ashdod and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Ashdod. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ashdod or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,208 in Ashdod, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ashdod. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ashdod or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashdod, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ashdod or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Ashdod and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Ashdod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.