Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashdod and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashdod and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,220 in Ashdod versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,411 in Ashdod versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,603 in Ashdod versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Ashdod is roughly 77% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashdod is 66% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.66 ₪78.0
$11.99 MX$210
114.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4 ₪296
$41.78 MX$733
133.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.41 ₪46.79
$10.75 MX$189
43.35%
Cappuccino
$3.67 ₪11.14
$3.50 MX$61.3
4.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 ₪8.60
$1.45 MX$25.41
95.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₪6.05
$0.88 MX$15.52
126.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.52 ₪25.87
$2.95 MX$51.7
188.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.63 ₪26.22
$4.51 MX$79.1
91.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₪5.92
$1.43 MX$25.12
36.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 ₪8.00
$1.84 MX$32.23
42.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 ₪7.58
$1.57 MX$27.51
59.24%
Eggs
$4.11 ₪12.47
$2.51 MX$44.06
63.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.60 ₪56.5
$8.28 MX$145
124.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 ₪34.13
$8.43 MX$148
33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.54 ₪53.3
$10.68 MX$187
64.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 ₪9.21
$2.61 MX$45.76
16.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 ₪6.35
$1.44 MX$25.22
45.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₪5.70
$1.96 MX$34.41
-4.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 ₪5.97
$2.09 MX$36.74
-5.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ₪4.23
$1.85 MX$32.47
-24.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ₪3.63
$2.17 MX$38.02
-45.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 ₪6.11
$1.03 MX$18.09
95.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₪3.96
$1.07 MX$18.84
21.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.29 ₪34.28
$4.10 MX$72.0
175.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.09 ₪39.76
$10.17 MX$178
28.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₪7.32
$1.68 MX$29.38
43.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₪8.86
$2.53 MX$44.31
15.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.66 ₪5.05
$0.51 MX$8.93
225.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.9 ₪209
$26.04 MX$457
164.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.89 ₪17.88
$3.23 MX$56.7
82.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₪1.74
$2.41 MX$42.19
-76.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.01 ₪134
$3.23 MX$56.6
1262.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 ₪6.26
$1.32 MX$23.17
56.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K ₪118.6K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
31.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2K ₪128.1K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
78.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$259 ₪786
$82.0 MX$1,439
215.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.06 ₪33.60
$22.95 MX$403
-51.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.38 ₪98.4
$30.11 MX$528
7.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 ₪202
$52.0 MX$912
28.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.71 ₪47.73
$18.53 MX$325
-15.22%
Cinema Ticket
$12.59 ₪38.25
$4.98 MX$87.3
152.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$849 ₪2,578
$197 MX$3,463
329.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K ₪36.6K
$5,336 MX$93.6K
125.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 ₪343
$35.60 MX$624
217.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 ₪167
$40.33 MX$707
36.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₪382
$78.8 MX$1,381
59.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$195 ₪593
$88.9 MX$1,560
119.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 ₪4,666
$947 MX$16.6K
62.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$810 ₪2,461
$474 MX$8,314
70.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 ₪4,651
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-6.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 ₪4,327
$1,211 MX$21.2K
17.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,731 ₪23.5K
$4,056 MX$71.1K
90.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,820 ₪17.7K
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-10.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashdod
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,276 ₪13.0K
$654 MX$11.5K
553.98%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,536 in Ashdod and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashdod pays 554% 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: $97.0 in Ashdod vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 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 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ashdod or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 554% higher in Ashdod, 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: $1,536 in Ashdod versus $947 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 $849 in Ashdod versus $197 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ashdod. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ashdod or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,220 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 77% less than in Ashdod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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