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: $1,085 in Birzeit versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,838 in Birzeit versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,591 in Birzeit versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Birzeit costs roughly 16% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Birzeit 19% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.94 ₪26.65
$11.94 MX$209
-25.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.94 ₪146
$42.75 MX$748
14.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 ₪28.84
$10.59 MX$185
-8.59%
Cappuccino
$2.49 ₪7.43
$3.62 MX$63.4
-31.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₪2.34
$1.47 MX$25.69
-46.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₪1.83
$0.94 MX$16.51
-35.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 ₪17.17
$3.09 MX$54.1
86.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 ₪15.54
$4.46 MX$78.0
17.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₪6.47
$1.43 MX$24.94
51.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 ₪3.43
$1.88 MX$32.97
-38.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 ₪7.58
$1.63 MX$28.50
55.83%
Eggs
$3.98 ₪11.86
$2.64 MX$46.26
50.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.11 ₪21.20
$8.21 MX$144
-13.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.63 ₪25.71
$8.29 MX$145
4.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.42 ₪51.9
$11.10 MX$194
56.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 ₪6.62
$2.65 MX$46.40
-16.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 ₪5.32
$1.50 MX$26.26
19.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 ₪3.70
$1.99 MX$34.79
-37.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ₪5.93
$2.08 MX$36.33
-4.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 ₪3.22
$1.79 MX$31.29
-39.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ₪4.11
$2.18 MX$38.09
-36.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₪4.13
$1.08 MX$18.84
28.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₪2.38
$1.04 MX$18.15
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16 ₪24.33
$3.97 MX$69.5
105.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.07 ₪30.00
$10.20 MX$179
-1.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 ₪8.03
$1.73 MX$30.22
55.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₪7.53
$2.50 MX$43.71
1.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ₪6.65
$0.52 MX$9.07
328.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.0 ₪206
$26.97 MX$472
155.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 ₪8.20
$3.14 MX$55.0
-12.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.40 MX$42.04
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.88 ₪41.37
$3.09 MX$54.0
349.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 ₪5.69
$1.27 MX$22.28
50.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K ₪116.9K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
27.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.4K ₪141.2K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
103.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.8 ₪199
$82.0 MX$1,435
-18.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.24 ₪42.42
$22.45 MX$393
-36.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.96 ₪59.5
$29.66 MX$519
-32.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.0 ₪232
$51.9 MX$908
50.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.40 ₪54.8
$18.67 MX$327
-1.45%
Cinema Ticket
$9.05 ₪26.96
$4.97 MX$87.0
82.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 ₪371
$198 MX$3,462
-37.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ₪7,723
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-50.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 ₪149
$36.34 MX$636
37.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.84 ₪113
$40.05 MX$701
-5.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 ₪231
$79.9 MX$1,398
-3.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.0 ₪188
$88.9 MX$1,555
-29.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₪1,058
$963 MX$16.9K
-63.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 ₪809
$465 MX$8,133
-41.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₪2,056
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-56.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 ₪1,793
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-50.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,676 ₪4,994
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-57.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,021 ₪3,042
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-84.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Birzeit
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$835 ₪2,488
$720 MX$12.6K
15.88%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $355 in Birzeit and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Birzeit pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49.00 in Birzeit vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $251 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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Birzeit or Playa del Carmen?
Birzeit pays 16% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Birzeit and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $355 in Birzeit versus $963 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,085 per month in Birzeit versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 19% 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 156% 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 Birzeit or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,085 in Birzeit versus $1,287 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 19% 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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