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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Buraydah vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,019 per month in Buraydah vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,805 per month in Buraydah vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Buraydah is about 3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Buraydah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Buraydah 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 SAR 49.51

$11.60 MX$200

13.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 SAR 151

$47.11 MX$812

-14.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 SAR 30.30

$11.88 MX$205

-32.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

Cappuccino

$3.57 SAR 13.43

$3.98 MX$68.6

-10.30%

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

$0.75 SAR 2.82

$1.43 MX$24.60

-47.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.82 MX$14.22

-65.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 SAR 6.23

$1.68 MX$28.89

-1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 SAR 4.36

$2.20 MX$37.88

-47.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 SAR 9.31

$1.71 MX$29.45

45.03%

Eggs

$2.87 SAR 10.78

$2.74 MX$47.26

4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.51 SAR 31.97

$9.58 MX$165

-11.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.74 SAR 25.30

$9.01 MX$155

-25.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.57 SAR 51.0

$12.81 MX$221

5.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.83

$2.89 MX$49.81

-18.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 SAR 6.93

$1.50 MX$25.81

22.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 SAR 6.33

$2.15 MX$37.03

-21.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$2.26 MX$38.96

-25.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$1.98 MX$34.15

-26.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

$1.99 MX$34.30

-32.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$1.23 MX$21.28

-11.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 SAR 2.48

$1.20 MX$20.63

-45.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.87 SAR 7.04

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 SAR 5.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 SAR 9.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 SAR 24.52

$4.55 MX$78.5

43.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.60 MX$10.35

81.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.90 SAR 135

$28.80 MX$497

24.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$5.39 MX$92.9

-51.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 SAR 9.70

$3.73 MX$64.3

-30.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.34 SAR 61.4

$5.77 MX$99.5

183.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$1.54 MX$26.48

-58.44%

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

$41.9K SAR 157.3K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

85.68%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-11.84%

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

$70.8 SAR 266

$91.4 MX$1,576

-22.57%

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

$31.23 SAR 117

$25.20 MX$435

23.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 SAR 267

$31.24 MX$539

127.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$134 SAR 505

$67.2 MX$1,159

100.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.51 SAR 137

$29.11 MX$502

25.42%

Cinema Ticket

$15.51 SAR 58.3

$4.86 MX$83.8

219.14%

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

$261 SAR 980

$224 MX$3,856

16.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,795 SAR 14.3K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-10.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 SAR 194

$47.10 MX$812

9.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 SAR 215

$44.29 MX$764

29.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.7 SAR 311

$80.1 MX$1,381

3.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 SAR 269

$92.7 MX$1,598

-22.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$683 SAR 2,566

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-35.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 SAR 1,284

$390 MX$6,728

-12.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 SAR 3,263

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-59.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$831 SAR 3,121

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-34.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,347 SAR 8,816

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-41.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,366 SAR 5,133

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-78.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,509 SAR 9,425

$758 MX$13.1K

230.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.98

11.45

-65.24%

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

Last update for Buraydah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $683 in Buraydah versus $1,063 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 231% higher in Buraydah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Buraydah versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $276 – making Buraydah 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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 3% more than Buraydah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Buraydah and $1,899 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 Buraydah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Buraydah and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Buraydah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Buraydah, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Buraydah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Buraydah costs $1,232 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Buraydah. 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.