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 $466 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $762 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Baghdadi vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 64% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baghdadi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.43 IQD 9,731

$11.71 MX$198

-36.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.69 IQD 17.9K

$46.59 MX$786

-70.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$1.87 IQD 2,448

$4.09 MX$69.1

-54.28%

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

$0.42 IQD 545

$1.37 MX$23.20

-69.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 290

$0.83 MX$14.07

-73.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 IQD 1,295

$1.73 MX$29.15

-42.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 IQD 641

$2.26 MX$38.15

-78.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.73 IQD 3,570

$1.77 MX$29.86

54.24%

Eggs

$1.84 IQD 2,413

$2.73 MX$46.12

-32.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.78 IQD 8,875

$9.18 MX$155

-26.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 IQD 4,070

$8.92 MX$151

-65.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 IQD 11.1K

$12.60 MX$213

-32.62%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 IQD 1,290

$3.02 MX$51.0

-67.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,345

$1.57 MX$26.51

-34.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,341

$2.13 MX$35.88

-52.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 342

$2.26 MX$38.22

-88.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 IQD 312

$2.00 MX$33.82

-88.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 825

$2.06 MX$34.85

-69.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 630

$1.18 MX$19.91

-59.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 750

$1.20 MX$20.32

-52.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$4.63 MX$78.2

-78.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

$10.69 MX$180

42.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 IQD 379

$0.57 MX$9.68

-49.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 IQD 6,578

$5.45 MX$91.9

-7.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.03 IQD 9,201

$5.98 MX$101

17.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 IQD 543

$1.55 MX$26.22

-73.55%

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

$22.3K MX$376.8K

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

$25.9K MX$438.0K

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

$49.02 IQD 64.2K

$89.1 MX$1,504

-45.00%

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

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

$31.50 MX$532

-51.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.0 IQD 78.6K

$67.8 MX$1,144

-11.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 IQD 10.8K

$5.05 MX$85.2

62.57%

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

$78.9 IQD 103.4K

$225 MX$3,797

-64.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,948 IQD 6.5M

$4,222 MX$71.3K

17.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.73 IQD 19.3K

$47.44 MX$801

-68.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.09 IQD 32.9K

$82.0 MX$1,384

-69.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.09 IQD 52.5K

$92.1 MX$1,555

-56.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 IQD 194.2K

$1,069 MX$18.0K

-86.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.9 IQD 66.7K

$405 MX$6,842

-87.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 IQD 593.1K

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-76.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 IQD 195.1K

$1,301 MX$22.0K

-88.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,516 IQD 2.0M

$3,995 MX$67.4K

-62.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$492 IQD 643.7K

$6,626 MX$111.8K

-92.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 IQD 663.2K

$749 MX$12.6K

-32.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-12.66%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Baghdadi versus $1,069 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 48% 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 $14.00 in Baghdadi versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $277 – 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 178%, 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 $698 per month in Baghdadi and $1,940 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 82% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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.