Cost of Living Comparison Between Az-zabadani and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Az-zabadani and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $511 per month in Az-zabadani vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $808 per month in Az-zabadani vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,106 per month in Az-zabadani vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Az-zabadani is about 60% 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-zabadani 62% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.08 SYP 672
$11.87 MX$204
-48.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.76 SYP 3,068
$42.90 MX$736
-35.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.37 SYP 593
$10.65 MX$183
-49.58%
Cappuccino
$1.54 SYP 170
$3.45 MX$59.2
-55.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 SYP 126
$1.50 MX$25.81
-24.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 SYP 74.9
$0.95 MX$16.28
-28.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 SYP 173
$3.03 MX$51.9
-48.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SYP 279
$4.61 MX$79.1
-45.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 SYP 108
$1.38 MX$23.61
-28.99%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 SYP 68.8
$1.85 MX$31.70
-66.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 SYP 185
$1.61 MX$27.65
3.73%
Eggs
$1.88 SYP 208
$2.59 MX$44.51
-27.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.15 SYP 348
$8.26 MX$142
-61.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.61 SYP 840
$8.37 MX$144
-9.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.22 SYP 1,240
$10.66 MX$183
5.25%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 SYP 94.9
$2.63 MX$45.12
-67.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 SYP 192
$1.49 MX$25.53
16.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 SYP 110
$1.92 MX$32.94
-47.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 SYP 103
$2.09 MX$35.81
-55.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 SYP 68.4
$1.86 MX$31.88
-66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 SYP 72.4
$2.26 MX$38.81
-71.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 SYP 41.53
$1.06 MX$18.23
-64.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 SYP 64.2
$1.09 MX$18.67
-46.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 SYP 336
$4.15 MX$71.2
-26.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.87 SYP 648
$10.39 MX$178
-43.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 SYP 107
$1.72 MX$29.59
-43.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SYP 195
$2.61 MX$44.85
-32.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.94 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 SYP 108
$3.13 MX$53.7
-68.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 SYP 134
$2.51 MX$43.09
-51.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 SYP 719
$3.15 MX$54.1
106.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.59 SYP 397
$1.27 MX$21.88
182.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K SYP 2.0M
$30.4K MX$521.3K
-38.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K SYP 2.4M
$23.6K MX$404.5K
-9.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 SYP 11.1K
$83.0 MX$1,425
20.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50 SYP 940
$22.71 MX$390
-62.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 SYP 6,007
$29.46 MX$506
84.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.0 MX$875
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33 MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.96 SYP 328
$4.93 MX$84.5
-39.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.01 SYP 4,752
$197 MX$3,386
-78.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,806 SYP 199.6K
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.35 SYP 3,243
$36.90 MX$633
-20.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51 SYP 2,819
$39.89 MX$685
-36.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.18 SYP 4,882
$80.0 MX$1,373
-44.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5 SYP 6,131
$89.5 MX$1,536
-37.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$956 MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$477 MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$667 MX$11.4K
-
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Az-zabadani versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $250 – 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 149% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $766 per month in Az-zabadani and $1,906 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Az-zabadani and $43.00 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 Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 50% 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zabadani, where all-in costs run around $511, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $511 versus $1,271 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 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.

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