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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jeddah is about 7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jeddah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$11.73 MX$203

-44.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$41.62 MX$719

-2.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$10.64 MX$184

-22.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.45

$3.52 MX$60.8

1.70%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$1.51 MX$26.09

-53.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.97 MX$16.82

-74.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.38 MX$23.90

26.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.89 MX$32.69

-49.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$1.64 MX$28.29

40.24%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$2.51 MX$43.30

9.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.83

$8.34 MX$144

-11.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$8.34 MX$144

-8.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$10.73 MX$185

15.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$2.60 MX$45.00

-16.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.46 MX$25.18

7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.90 MX$32.84

-18.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$2.08 MX$35.88

-25.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.78 MX$30.68

-25.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$2.19 MX$37.76

-44.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.04 MX$17.97

0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$1.08 MX$18.60

-44.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.37

$4.08 MX$70.5

65.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$0.51 MX$8.81

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$26.46 MX$457

49.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$3.26 MX$56.4

-0.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$2.49 MX$43.05

-24.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$3.25 MX$56.1

372.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$1.31 MX$22.59

-51.91%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-11.11%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

-8.57%

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

$105 SAR 393

$82.9 MX$1,432

26.49%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$22.22 MX$384

45.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$29.34 MX$507

138.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$51.6 MX$892

76.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$18.32 MX$317

146.56%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.26

$5.07 MX$87.5

158.78%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$201 MX$3,470

99.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

23.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$36.92 MX$638

74.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$39.79 MX$688

45.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$78.5 MX$1,356

17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$87.1 MX$1,505

-3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$973 MX$16.8K

-48.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$468 MX$8,082

-16.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,375

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-45.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-49.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-58.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-84.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,219

$664 MX$11.5K

149.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.42

-60.60%

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

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah 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 150% higher in Jeddah, 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 $41.00 in Jeddah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $249 – making Jeddah 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,202 in Jeddah, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 8% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,945 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 Jeddah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Jeddah and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Jeddah and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jeddah, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Jeddah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Jeddah to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Jeddah. 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.