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 $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-zabadani 60% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 SYP 723
$11.72 MX$204
-49.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99 SYP 3,401
$41.89 MX$731
-33.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.64 SYP 686
$10.51 MX$183
-46.34%
Cappuccino
$1.51 SYP 183
$3.59 MX$62.5
-57.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 SYP 136
$1.51 MX$26.31
-25.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 SYP 83.6
$0.92 MX$15.96
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 SYP 190
$2.96 MX$51.6
-46.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SYP 308
$4.41 MX$76.9
-42.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 SYP 125
$1.40 MX$24.35
-26.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 SYP 76.7
$1.88 MX$32.87
-66.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 SYP 214
$1.56 MX$27.19
12.82%
Eggs
$1.94 SYP 236
$2.61 MX$45.50
-25.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.99 SYP 364
$8.32 MX$145
-64.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.79 SYP 946
$8.35 MX$146
-6.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.43 SYP 1,389
$10.86 MX$189
5.25%
Apples (1kg)
$0.93 SYP 113
$2.71 MX$47.31
-65.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 SYP 214
$1.51 MX$26.25
16.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 SYP 121
$1.87 MX$32.67
-47.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 SYP 106
$2.19 MX$38.19
-59.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 SYP 74.3
$1.86 MX$32.40
-67.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 SYP 76.2
$2.23 MX$38.90
-71.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 SYP 45.22
$1.07 MX$18.63
-65.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SYP 74.4
$1.09 MX$18.94
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08 SYP 374
$4.19 MX$73.0
-26.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.75 SYP 942
$10.43 MX$182
-25.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 SYP 119
$1.66 MX$28.91
-40.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 SYP 213
$2.61 MX$45.56
-32.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.54 MX$9.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.16 MX$456
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 SYP 118
$3.08 MX$53.7
-68.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 SYP 154
$2.40 MX$41.94
-47.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.48 SYP 788
$3.13 MX$54.5
107.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.78 SYP 459
$1.31 MX$22.87
188.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K SYP 2.2M
$29.8K MX$519.9K
-39.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K SYP 2.5M
$23.3K MX$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)
$101 SYP 12.2K
$81.3 MX$1,418
23.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30 SYP 1,008
$22.56 MX$393
-63.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 SYP 6,650
$30.05 MX$524
82.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.9 MX$923
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.97 SYP 361
$4.92 MX$85.8
-39.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.25 SYP 5,255
$201 MX$3,502
-78.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,849 SYP 224.6K
$5,175 MX$90.2K
-64.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.10 SYP 3,536
$35.92 MX$627
-18.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.48 SYP 3,096
$40.13 MX$700
-36.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.71 SYP 5,554
$79.7 MX$1,390
-42.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0 SYP 6,919
$86.5 MX$1,508
-34.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$978 MX$17.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$470 MX$8,206
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,651 MX$28.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,203 MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az-zabadani
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$677 MX$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.

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