🙂A single person spends $731 per month in Irbid vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,176 per month in Irbid vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,621 per month in Irbid vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Irbid is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Irbid and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Irbid45% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.32JOD 3.06
$11.73MX$203
-63.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.10JOD 30.50
$41.62MX$720
3.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.00JOD 4.95
$10.64MX$184
-34.21%
Cappuccino
$1.37JOD 0.97
$3.52MX$60.9
-61.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47JOD 0.33
$1.51MX$26.12
-68.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37JOD 0.26
$0.97MX$16.84
-61.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.84JOD 3.43
$2.95MX$51.0
64.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.22JOD 5.11
$4.45MX$77.0
62.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13JOD 0.80
$1.38MX$23.93
-18.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42JOD 0.30
$1.89MX$32.72
-77.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55JOD 1.09
$1.64MX$28.32
-5.49%
Eggs
$1.74JOD 1.23
$2.51MX$43.34
-30.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.45JOD 4.57
$8.34MX$144
-22.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52JOD 3.91
$8.34MX$144
-33.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26JOD 7.97
$10.73MX$186
4.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.44JOD 1.02
$2.60MX$45.04
-44.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50JOD 1.06
$1.46MX$25.20
2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07JOD 0.76
$1.90MX$32.87
-43.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57JOD 0.40
$2.08MX$35.91
-72.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86JOD 0.61
$1.78MX$30.71
-51.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$2.19MX$37.80
-68.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$1.04MX$17.99
-41.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58JOD 0.41
$1.08MX$18.62
-46.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63JOD 2.57
$4.08MX$70.6
-11.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08JOD 5.01
$10.32MX$178
-31.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.93JOD 2.78
$1.71MX$29.61
129.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28JOD 3.73
$2.58MX$44.54
104.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$0.51MX$8.81
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50JOD 0.35
$3.26MX$56.4
-84.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39JOD 0.98
$2.49MX$43.09
-44.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.16JOD 5.07
$3.25MX$56.2
120.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45JOD 1.03
$1.31MX$22.61
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KJOD 17.2K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-19.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KJOD 22.3K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
34.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.4JOD 66.8
$82.9MX$1,433
13.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.36JOD 10.87
$22.22MX$384
-30.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.53JOD 22.31
$29.34MX$507
7.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.90JOD 24.70
$51.6MX$893
-32.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.44JOD 13.05
$18.32MX$317
0.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.04JOD 7.10
$5.07MX$87.6
98.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.3JOD 66.1
$201MX$3,473
-53.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,938JOD 2,787
$5,212MX$90.1K
-24.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.46JOD 31.46
$36.92MX$639
20.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.08JOD 14.92
$39.79MX$688
-47.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.4JOD 48.39
$78.5MX$1,357
-12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.51JOD 35.04
$87.1MX$1,506
-43.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206JOD 146
$973MX$16.8K
-78.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146JOD 103
$468MX$8,090
-68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366JOD 259
$1,641MX$28.4K
-77.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$285JOD 202
$1,221MX$21.1K
-76.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$505JOD 358
$3,946MX$68.3K
-87.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$491JOD 348
$6,498MX$112.4K
-92.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irbid
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$568JOD 402
$664MX$11.5K
-14.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
11.42
-36.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Irbid: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $206 in Irbid versus $973 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 17% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Irbid versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Irbid vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Irbid wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Irbid vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irbid or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 77% more than Irbid, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Irbid vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,097 per month in Irbid and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Irbid or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Irbid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Irbid compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $731 in Irbid and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Irbid and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $93.3 per month in Irbid and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irbid or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Irbid, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Irbid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irbid or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Irbid costs $731 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Irbid compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Irbid or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Irbid. 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.