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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $764 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,147 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,530 per month in Baghdadi vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 39% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baghdadi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.94 IQD 6,465

$11.99 MX$210

-58.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.77 IQD 22.0K

$41.78 MX$733

-59.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 IQD 9,177

$10.75 MX$189

-34.79%

Cappuccino

$1.76 IQD 2,309

$3.50 MX$61.3

-49.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 IQD 559

$1.45 MX$25.41

-70.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 312

$0.88 MX$15.52

-72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 IQD 3,718

$2.95 MX$51.7

-3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,686

$4.51 MX$79.1

-37.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 IQD 1,504

$1.43 MX$25.12

-19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 882

$1.84 MX$32.23

-63.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 IQD 2,979

$1.57 MX$27.51

44.59%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,213

$2.51 MX$44.06

-32.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 IQD 7,652

$8.28 MX$145

-29.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,740

$8.43 MX$148

-48.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.29 IQD 12.2K

$10.68 MX$187

-13.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,341

$2.61 MX$45.76

-60.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$1.44 MX$25.22

-29.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$1.96 MX$34.41

-47.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 739

$2.09 MX$36.74

-73.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 695

$1.85 MX$32.47

-71.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 829

$2.17 MX$38.02

-70.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 895

$1.03 MX$18.09

-33.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 IQD 668

$1.07 MX$18.84

-52.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 IQD 2,229

$4.10 MX$72.0

-58.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 IQD 19.9K

$10.17 MX$178

49.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,348

$1.68 MX$29.38

6.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,808

$2.53 MX$44.31

-15.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.51 MX$8.93

-29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.53 IQD 41.3K

$26.04 MX$457

21.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,955

$3.23 MX$56.7

-30.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,013

$2.41 MX$42.19

-36.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 IQD 7,956

$3.23 MX$56.6

88.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 741

$1.32 MX$23.17

-56.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.8K IQD 24.7M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-36.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-15.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 IQD 102.6K

$82.0 MX$1,439

-4.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.76 IQD 23.3K

$22.95 MX$403

-22.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.08 IQD 45.9K

$30.11 MX$528

16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.63 IQD 48.0K

$52.0 MX$912

-29.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

$18.53 MX$325

-8.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

$4.98 MX$87.3

58.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$150 IQD 196.1K

$197 MX$3,463

-24.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,290 IQD 4.3M

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-38.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.48 IQD 36.0K

$35.60 MX$624

-22.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.73 IQD 33.7K

$40.33 MX$707

-36.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

$78.8 MX$1,381

-22.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.50 IQD 53.0K

$88.9 MX$1,560

-54.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 IQD 315.9K

$947 MX$16.6K

-74.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 236.2K

$474 MX$8,314

-61.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 765.4K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-64.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 IQD 448.4K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-71.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,475 IQD 1.9M

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-63.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$498 IQD 652.6K

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-92.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$497 IQD 650.7K

$654 MX$11.5K

-24.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

11.42

-50.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baghdadi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Baghdadi versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $249 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Baghdadi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,146 per month in Baghdadi and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $764 in Baghdadi and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $764, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. 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.