🙂A single person spends $528 per month in Az-zabadani vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $810 per month in Az-zabadani vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,091 per month in Az-zabadani vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Az-zabadani is about 58% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Az-zabadani and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Az-zabadani60% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95SYP 723
$11.72MX$204
-49.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99SYP 3,401
$41.89MX$731
-33.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.64SYP 686
$10.51MX$183
-46.34%
Cappuccino
$1.51SYP 183
$3.59MX$62.5
-57.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12SYP 136
$1.51MX$26.31
-25.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69SYP 83.6
$0.92MX$15.96
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57SYP 190
$2.96MX$51.6
-46.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SYP 308
$4.41MX$76.9
-42.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03SYP 125
$1.40MX$24.35
-26.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63SYP 76.7
$1.88MX$32.87
-66.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76SYP 214
$1.56MX$27.19
12.82%
Eggs
$1.94SYP 236
$2.61MX$45.50
-25.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.99SYP 364
$8.32MX$145
-64.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79SYP 946
$8.35MX$146
-6.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.43SYP 1,389
$10.86MX$189
5.25%
Apples(1kg)
$0.93SYP 113
$2.71MX$47.31
-65.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76SYP 214
$1.51MX$26.25
16.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99SYP 121
$1.87MX$32.67
-47.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88SYP 106
$2.19MX$38.19
-59.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61SYP 74.3
$1.86MX$32.40
-67.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63SYP 76.2
$2.23MX$38.90
-71.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37SYP 45.22
$1.07MX$18.63
-65.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61SYP 74.4
$1.09MX$18.94
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08SYP 374
$4.19MX$73.0
-26.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.75SYP 942
$10.43MX$182
-25.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98SYP 119
$1.66MX$28.91
-40.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76SYP 213
$2.61MX$45.56
-32.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$456
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97SYP 118
$3.08MX$53.7
-68.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27SYP 154
$2.40MX$41.94
-47.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.48SYP 788
$3.13MX$54.5
107.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.78SYP 459
$1.31MX$22.87
188.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KSYP 2.2M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-39.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KSYP 2.5M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
-10.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101SYP 12.2K
$81.3MX$1,418
23.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30SYP 1,008
$22.56MX$393
-63.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7SYP 6,650
$30.05MX$524
82.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.9MX$923
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.97SYP 361
$4.92MX$85.8
-39.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.25SYP 5,255
$201MX$3,502
-78.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,849SYP 224.6K
$5,175MX$90.2K
-64.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.10SYP 3,536
$35.92MX$627
-18.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.48SYP 3,096
$40.13MX$700
-36.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.71SYP 5,554
$79.7MX$1,390
-42.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0SYP 6,919
$86.5MX$1,508
-34.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$978MX$17.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$470MX$8,206
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,651MX$28.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,203MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.75
11.42
20.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Az-zabadani: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Az-zabadani versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $252 – making Az-zabadani the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Az-zabadani vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Az-zabadani or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 139% more than Az-zabadani, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Az-zabadani and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Az-zabadani and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Az-zabadani and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Az-zabadani and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Az-zabadani or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 45% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Az-zabadani or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zabadani, where all-in costs run around $528, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Az-zabadani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Az-zabadani or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Az-zabadani costs $528 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Az-zabadani or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zabadani. 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.
Az-zabadani vs other spots: cost of living compared