🙂A single person spends $758 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,141 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,525 per month in Baghdadi vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Baghdadi is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Baghdadi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi43% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.11IQD 6,694
$11.73MX$203
-56.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.16IQD 22.5K
$41.62MX$720
-58.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94IQD 9,091
$10.64MX$184
-34.77%
Cappuccino
$1.70IQD 2,220
$3.52MX$60.9
-51.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43IQD 561
$1.51MX$26.12
-71.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24IQD 311
$0.97MX$16.84
-75.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92IQD 3,825
$2.95MX$51.0
-1.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84IQD 3,715
$4.45MX$77.0
-36.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10IQD 1,441
$1.38MX$23.93
-20.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66IQD 868
$1.89MX$32.72
-65.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24IQD 2,931
$1.64MX$28.32
36.59%
Eggs
$1.77IQD 2,311
$2.51MX$43.34
-29.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.85IQD 7,658
$8.34MX$144
-29.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.41IQD 5,772
$8.34MX$144
-47.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.04IQD 11.8K
$10.73MX$186
-15.75%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98IQD 1,289
$2.60MX$45.04
-62.31%
Banana(1kg)
$0.97IQD 1,274
$1.46MX$25.20
-33.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03IQD 1,346
$1.90MX$32.87
-45.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54IQD 701
$2.08MX$35.91
-74.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57IQD 750
$1.78MX$30.71
-67.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68IQD 889
$2.19MX$37.80
-68.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70IQD 911
$1.04MX$17.99
-32.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49IQD 640
$1.08MX$18.62
-54.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79IQD 2,350
$4.08MX$70.6
-56.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.18IQD 19.9K
$10.32MX$178
47.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77IQD 2,321
$1.71MX$29.61
3.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15IQD 2,817
$2.58MX$44.54
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 518
$0.51MX$8.81
-21.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.62IQD 41.4K
$26.46MX$458
19.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26IQD 2,954
$3.26MX$56.4
-30.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,012
$2.49MX$43.09
-38.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07IQD 7,948
$3.25MX$56.2
86.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53IQD 697
$1.31MX$22.61
-59.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KIQD 25.3M
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-36.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.6M
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-16.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.7IQD 100.4K
$82.9MX$1,433
-7.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.40IQD 22.8K
$22.22MX$384
-21.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.99IQD 45.8K
$29.34MX$507
19.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.93IQD 48.4K
$51.6MX$893
-28.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.94IQD 22.2K
$18.32MX$317
-7.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.63IQD 9,988
$5.07MX$87.6
50.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151IQD 198.0K
$201MX$3,473
-24.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,247IQD 4.3M
$5,212MX$90.1K
-37.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.88IQD 35.2K
$36.92MX$639
-27.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.58IQD 33.5K
$39.79MX$688
-35.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.7IQD 79.5K
$78.5MX$1,357
-22.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.60IQD 54.5K
$87.1MX$1,506
-52.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241IQD 315.9K
$973MX$16.8K
-75.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178IQD 232.4K
$468MX$8,090
-62.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582IQD 762.5K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-64.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345IQD 451.8K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-71.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,501IQD 2.0M
$3,946MX$68.3K
-61.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$492IQD 644.1K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-92.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdadi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$506IQD 662.1K
$664MX$11.5K
-23.85%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Baghdadi versus $973 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 31% 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: $173 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
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Baghdadi?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,137 per month in Baghdadi and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Baghdadi vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $758 in Baghdadi and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 20% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Baghdadi or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $758, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Baghdadi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.