😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,588 in Juffair versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Juffair versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,033 in Juffair versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Juffair is roughly 26% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Juffair is 19% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65BHD 2.51
$11.99MX$209
-44.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.33BHD 11.81
$41.78MX$728
-25.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.63BHD 2.88
$10.75MX$187
-29.02%
Cappuccino
$5.27BHD 1.99
$3.50MX$60.9
50.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72BHD 0.27
$1.45MX$25.22
-50.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26BHD 0.10
$0.88MX$15.41
-70.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.16BHD 1.95
$2.95MX$51.3
74.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.47BHD 3.57
$4.51MX$78.6
109.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65BHD 0.62
$1.43MX$24.94
15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35BHD 0.51
$1.84MX$31.99
-26.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68BHD 0.63
$1.57MX$27.31
7.01%
Eggs
$2.46BHD 0.93
$2.51MX$43.74
-1.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.46BHD 2.44
$8.28MX$144
-21.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.29BHD 2.37
$8.43MX$147
-25.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.08BHD 3.42
$10.68MX$186
-14.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35BHD 0.89
$2.61MX$45.43
-9.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01BHD 0.76
$1.44MX$25.04
39.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71BHD 0.64
$1.96MX$34.16
-12.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15BHD 0.44
$2.09MX$36.47
-44.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90BHD 0.34
$1.85MX$32.24
-51.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07BHD 0.40
$2.17MX$37.74
-50.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49BHD 0.56
$1.03MX$17.96
44.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82BHD 0.31
$1.07MX$18.70
-23.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46BHD 2.43
$4.10MX$71.4
57.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.93BHD 7.13
$10.17MX$177
86.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.43BHD 1.29
$1.68MX$29.17
104.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26BHD 1.23
$2.53MX$43.98
28.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76BHD 0.29
$0.51MX$8.87
49.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.92BHD 13.16
$26.04MX$453
34.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14BHD 1.18
$3.23MX$56.3
-2.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.91BHD 1.47
$2.41MX$41.88
62.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.31BHD 9.91
$3.23MX$56.2
714.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.20BHD 0.08
$1.32MX$23.00
-84.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KBHD 10.7K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-4.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1KBHD 6,817
$23.7KMX$412.0K
-23.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119BHD 44.94
$82.0MX$1,428
45.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.05BHD 10.19
$22.95MX$400
17.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03BHD 12.07
$30.11MX$524
6.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6BHD 19.82
$52.0MX$905
1.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.64BHD 14.94
$18.53MX$323
113.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22BHD 3.47
$4.98MX$86.6
85.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$239BHD 89.9
$197MX$3,438
20.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,839BHD 3,331
$5,336MX$92.9K
65.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.61BHD 16.06
$35.60MX$620
19.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.42BHD 12.22
$40.33MX$702
-19.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2BHD 25.34
$78.8MX$1,371
-14.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.5BHD 25.07
$88.9MX$1,549
-25.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954BHD 360
$947MX$16.5K
0.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$735BHD 277
$474MX$8,254
55.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,753BHD 661
$1,644MX$28.6K
6.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,198BHD 451
$1,211MX$21.1K
-1.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,098BHD 791
$4,056MX$70.6K
-48.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,567BHD 590
$6,470MX$112.7K
-75.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juffair
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,772BHD 1,045
$654MX$11.4K
323.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7
11.42
-38.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Juffair: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $954 in Juffair and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Juffair pays 324% 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: $31.00 in Juffair vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $249 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
Which city is more expensive, Juffair or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Juffair. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Juffair or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 324% 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: $954 in Juffair versus $947 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 $1,588 per month in Juffair versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 26% 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 34% 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,588 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 $1,256 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 26% less than in Juffair. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.