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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Birzeit versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,797 in Birzeit versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,505 in Birzeit versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Birzeit costs roughly 14% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Birzeit 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.09 ₪28.02
$11.72 MX$204
-22.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.54 ₪150
$41.89 MX$731
15.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.06 ₪30.98
$10.51 MX$183
-4.28%
Cappuccino
$2.49 ₪7.66
$3.59 MX$62.5
-30.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₪2.40
$1.51 MX$26.31
-48.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₪1.78
$0.92 MX$15.96
-36.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.52 ₪16.99
$2.96 MX$51.6
86.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 ₪16.81
$4.41 MX$76.9
23.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 ₪6.50
$1.40 MX$24.35
50.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 ₪3.58
$1.88 MX$32.87
-38.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.61 ₪8.03
$1.56 MX$27.19
67.31%
Eggs
$3.93 ₪12.10
$2.61 MX$45.50
50.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.34 ₪22.63
$8.32 MX$145
-11.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.79 ₪27.07
$8.35 MX$146
5.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 ₪53.4
$10.86 MX$189
59.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 ₪7.07
$2.71 MX$47.31
-15.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₪5.54
$1.51 MX$26.25
19.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ₪3.99
$1.87 MX$32.67
-31.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 ₪6.15
$2.19 MX$38.19
-8.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ₪3.36
$1.86 MX$32.40
-41.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 ₪4.29
$2.23 MX$38.90
-37.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₪4.29
$1.07 MX$18.63
29.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ₪2.69
$1.09 MX$18.94
-20.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87 ₪24.25
$4.19 MX$73.0
87.83%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.43 MX$182
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₪8.59
$1.66 MX$28.91
68.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₪7.49
$2.61 MX$45.56
-6.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.31 ₪7.13
$0.54 MX$9.45
327.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.6 ₪211
$26.16 MX$456
162.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 ₪8.59
$3.08 MX$53.7
-9.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.40 MX$41.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.87 ₪42.72
$3.13 MX$54.5
343.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 ₪5.79
$1.31 MX$22.87
43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K ₪123.4K
$29.8K MX$519.9K
34.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.5K ₪146.4K
$23.3K MX$406.8K
103.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.7 ₪199
$81.3 MX$1,418
-20.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.94 ₪42.95
$22.56 MX$393
-38.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.16 ₪62.1
$30.05 MX$524
-32.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.8 ₪243
$52.9 MX$923
48.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 ₪57.3
$18.39 MX$321
1.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.37 ₪28.86
$4.92 MX$85.8
90.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$124 ₪383
$201 MX$3,502
-38.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,562 ₪7,893
$5,175 MX$90.2K
-50.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 ₪158
$35.92 MX$627
42.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.24 ₪118
$40.13 MX$700
-4.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.7 ₪242
$79.7 MX$1,390
-1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0 ₪197
$86.5 MX$1,508
-25.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$353 ₪1,087
$978 MX$17.1K
-63.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 ₪851
$470 MX$8,206
-41.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$678 ₪2,088
$1,651 MX$28.8K
-58.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 ₪1,836
$1,203 MX$21.0K
-50.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$677 MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.62
11.42
-50.79%

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

Last update for Birzeit: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $353 in Birzeit and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Birzeit vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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
Birzeit vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Birzeit?
Birzeit is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,635 in Birzeit and $1,890 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.
What is the rent difference between Birzeit and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $353 in Birzeit versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Birzeit and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,090 per month in Birzeit versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Birzeit runs roughly 162% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Birzeit or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,090 in Birzeit versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Birzeit but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Birzeit the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Birzeit or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Birzeit 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Birzeit gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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