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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $366 in Baniyas versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $608 in Baniyas versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $850 in Baniyas versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Baniyas costs roughly 71% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baniyas 73% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 SYP 247

$11.99 MX$210

-83.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.28 SYP 3,315

$41.78 MX$733

-34.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 SYP 682

$10.75 MX$189

-47.81%

Cappuccino

$0.48 SYP 57.8

$3.50 MX$61.3

-86.29%

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

$1.01 SYP 123

$1.45 MX$25.41

-30.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SYP 37.97

$0.88 MX$15.52

-64.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 SYP 180

$2.95 MX$51.7

-49.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SYP 296

$4.51 MX$79.1

-46.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 SYP 100

$1.43 MX$25.12

-41.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 75.9

$1.84 MX$32.23

-66.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.57 MX$27.51

-35.03%

Eggs

$1.19 SYP 144

$2.51 MX$44.06

-52.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 370

$8.28 MX$145

-63.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 SYP 926

$8.43 MX$148

-9.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 SYP 1,383

$10.68 MX$187

6.55%

Apples (1kg)

$0.48 SYP 58.0

$2.61 MX$45.76

-81.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 SYP 123

$1.44 MX$25.22

-29.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.29 SYP 34.84

$1.96 MX$34.41

-85.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 SYP 58.6

$2.09 MX$36.74

-77.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 SYP 35.12

$1.85 MX$32.47

-84.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 SYP 50.0

$2.17 MX$38.02

-81.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 45.97

$1.03 MX$18.09

-63.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$1.07 MX$18.84

-42.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 SYP 359

$4.10 MX$72.0

-27.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.92 SYP 598

$10.17 MX$178

-51.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.68 MX$29.38

-39.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 213

$2.53 MX$44.31

-30.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 SYP 23.11

$0.51 MX$8.93

-62.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.77 SYP 944

$26.04 MX$457

-70.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 SYP 123

$3.23 MX$56.7

-68.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 149

$2.41 MX$42.19

-48.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 SYP 797

$3.23 MX$56.6

103.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 SYP 177

$1.32 MX$23.17

10.61%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.2M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-37.84%

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

$21.0K SYP 2.6M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-11.28%

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

$20.03 SYP 2,434

$82.0 MX$1,439

-75.58%

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

$4.01 SYP 487

$22.95 MX$403

-82.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.0 SYP 6,681

$30.11 MX$528

82.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 SYP 374

$4.98 MX$87.3

-38.15%

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

$43.57 SYP 5,294

$197 MX$3,463

-77.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,855 SYP 225.5K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-65.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.76 SYP 944

$35.60 MX$624

-78.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.57 SYP 3,107

$40.33 MX$707

-36.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.44 SYP 5,400

$78.8 MX$1,381

-43.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 SYP 6,765

$88.9 MX$1,560

-37.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

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 Baniyas: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Baniyas vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $249 per month, with Baniyas cheaper across the board.

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

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

Baniyas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 243% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $549 in Baniyas and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Baniyas – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $366 per month in Baniyas versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 243% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $366 in Baniyas versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baniyas but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Baniyas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Baniyas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Baniyas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 243% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.