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

😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 35.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 133.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dubai is 76% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 91.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 AED 40.48
$11.99 MX$227
-8.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 AED 295
$42.47 MX$803
89.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 AED 34.28
$10.47 MX$198
-10.89%
Cappuccino
$5.49 AED 20.15
$3.6 MX$68.2
52.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 AED 4.57
$1.44 MX$27.16
-13.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 AED 3.22
$0.89 MX$16.79
-1.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.4 AED 45.55
$3.09 MX$58.5
301.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$4.58 MX$86.6
195.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 AED 7.36
$1.38 MX$26.04
45.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 AED 5.22
$1.85 MX$34.9
-23.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 AED 8.32
$1.57 MX$29.68
44.59%
Eggs
$3.31 AED 12.15
$2.55 MX$48.3
29.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 AED 37.4
$8.61 MX$163
18.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.18 AED 33.71
$8.54 MX$161
7.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.76 AED 46.85
$10.98 MX$208
16.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.3 AED 8.44
$2.72 MX$51.4
-15.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 AED 6.85
$1.51 MX$28.57
23.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 AED 6.82
$1.88 MX$35.63
-1.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 AED 5.48
$2.19 MX$41.42
-31.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 AED 4.39
$1.87 MX$35.3
-36.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 AED 4.64
$2.19 MX$41.37
-42.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.4 AED 5.13
$1.07 MX$20.23
30.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 AED 2.38
$1.09 MX$20.64
-40.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.7 AED 24.61
$3.96 MX$74.9
69.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.32 AED 59.9
$8.86 MX$167
84.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 AED 9.68
$1.72 MX$32.53
53.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 AED 12.92
$2.61 MX$49.37
34.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 AED 5.84
$0.52 MX$9.74
205.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.7 AED 296
$26.59 MX$503
203.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 AED 11.83
$3.24 MX$61.2
-0.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 AED 3.14
$2.38 MX$44.94
-64.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 AED 30.73
$3.11 MX$58.7
169.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 AED 2.65
$1.31 MX$24.85
-45.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33K AED 121K
$30.3K MX$573K
8.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K AED 83.3K
$24K MX$453.6K
-5.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 AED 796
$84.2 MX$1,592
157.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.4 AED 233
$22.14 MX$419
186.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 AED 371
$30.14 MX$570
235.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.1 AED 327
$52 MX$983
71.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.03 AED 169
$18.72 MX$354
145.89%
Cinema Ticket
$14.96 AED 54.9
$5.07 MX$95.9
195.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$833 AED 3,060
$200 MX$3,787
316.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K AED 52.4K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
167.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.3 AED 306
$35.74 MX$676
133.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7 AED 234
$39.8 MX$753
59.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 AED 413
$79 MX$1,493
42.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 AED 447
$88.4 MX$1,671
37.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,421 AED 8,892
$965 MX$18.3K
150.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 AED 5,729
$474 MX$8,968
228.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,608 AED 16.9K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
178.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,940 AED 10.8K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
144.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,378 AED 27.1K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
139.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,803 AED 14K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-49.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,063 AED 14.9K
$792 MX$15K
413.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.49
11.42
-60.68%

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

Last update for Dubai: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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