😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,504 in Juffair versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,213 in Juffair versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,922 in Juffair versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Juffair is roughly 16% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Juffair is 9% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.54BHD 2.46
$11.71MX$198
-44.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26BHD 12.16
$46.59MX$786
-30.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.59BHD 2.86
$11.65MX$197
-34.85%
Cappuccino
$4.80BHD 1.81
$4.09MX$69.1
17.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73BHD 0.28
$1.37MX$23.20
-46.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26BHD 0.10
$0.83MX$14.07
-68.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.39BHD 2.03
$3.35MX$56.6
60.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19BHD 1.96
$6.91MX$117
-24.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41BHD 0.53
$1.73MX$29.15
-18.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05BHD 0.40
$2.26MX$38.15
-53.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63BHD 0.61
$1.77MX$29.86
-7.91%
Eggs
$2.21BHD 0.83
$2.73MX$46.12
-19.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.75BHD 2.54
$9.18MX$155
-26.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.58BHD 2.48
$8.92MX$151
-26.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.54BHD 3.22
$12.60MX$213
-32.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31BHD 0.87
$3.02MX$51.0
-23.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33BHD 0.88
$1.57MX$26.51
48.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96BHD 0.74
$2.13MX$35.88
-7.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39BHD 0.52
$2.26MX$38.22
-38.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04BHD 0.39
$2.00MX$33.82
-48.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18BHD 0.44
$2.06MX$34.85
-42.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55BHD 0.59
$1.18MX$19.91
31.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78BHD 0.29
$1.20MX$20.32
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31BHD 2.00
$4.63MX$78.2
14.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.39BHD 6.93
$10.69MX$180
72.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53BHD 1.33
$1.62MX$27.33
117.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69BHD 1.01
$2.88MX$48.63
-6.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84BHD 0.32
$0.57MX$9.68
47.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.88BHD 9.76
$29.83MX$503
-13.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46BHD 1.30
$5.45MX$91.9
-36.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.36BHD 1.27
$3.70MX$62.5
-9.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.68BHD 5.91
$5.98MX$101
162.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.25BHD 0.09
$1.55MX$26.22
-83.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KBHD 10.4K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
23.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1KBHD 7,193
$25.9KMX$438.0K
-26.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111BHD 42.02
$89.1MX$1,504
25.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.28BHD 9.15
$25.04MX$423
-3.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.87BHD 12.02
$31.50MX$532
1.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6BHD 19.82
$67.8MX$1,144
-22.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.25BHD 14.80
$28.92MX$488
35.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27BHD 3.49
$5.05MX$85.2
83.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$235BHD 88.4
$225MX$3,797
4.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KBHD 4,112
$4,222MX$71.3K
158.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.88BHD 15.79
$47.44MX$801
-11.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.27BHD 12.17
$44.98MX$759
-28.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.9BHD 24.85
$82.0MX$1,384
-19.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.0BHD 24.87
$92.1MX$1,555
-28.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$967BHD 364
$1,069MX$18.0K
-9.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$718BHD 271
$405MX$6,842
77.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,768BHD 667
$1,935MX$32.7K
-8.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,174BHD 443
$1,301MX$22.0K
-9.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,093BHD 789
$3,995MX$67.4K
-47.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,608BHD 606
$6,626MX$111.8K
-75.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,755BHD 1,039
$749MX$12.6K
267.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.21
11.45
-45.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Juffair: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $967 in Juffair and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Juffair pays 268% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Juffair vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $277 per month, with Juffair 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
Juffair vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Juffair and in Playa del Carmen?
Juffair and Playa del Carmen differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,504 vs $1,293 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Juffair or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 268% higher in Juffair, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Juffair compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $967 in Juffair versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Juffair compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,504 per month in Juffair versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Juffair compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 15% less than in Juffair. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Juffair or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,504 in Juffair, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Juffair. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Juffair or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,293 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Juffair compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Juffair and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Juffair. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.