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

🙂 Solo nomad: Karbala is 45.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 45.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karbala is 35.2% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 56.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 IQD 6,556
$11.99 MX$227
-58.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
$42.47 MX$803
-63.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 IQD 6,988
$10.47 MX$198
-49.00%
Cappuccino
$1.58 IQD 2,071
$3.6 MX$68.2
-56.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 476
$1.44 MX$27.16
-75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 IQD 395
$0.89 MX$16.79
-66.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 IQD 2,521
$3.09 MX$58.5
-37.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 IQD 3,706
$4.58 MX$86.6
-38.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 IQD 1,562
$1.38 MX$26.04
-13.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.7 IQD 914
$1.85 MX$34.9
-62.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 IQD 1,867
$1.57 MX$29.68
-8.92%
Eggs
$1.75 IQD 2,290
$2.55 MX$48.3
-31.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.2 IQD 6,811
$8.61 MX$163
-39.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,348
$8.54 MX$161
-43.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
$10.98 MX$208
-11.66%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,265
$2.72 MX$51.4
-64.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 IQD 1,346
$1.51 MX$28.57
-31.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 IQD 1,187
$1.88 MX$35.63
-51.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 IQD 863
$2.19 MX$41.42
-69.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 821
$1.87 MX$35.3
-66.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 IQD 712
$2.19 MX$41.37
-75.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.6 IQD 792
$1.07 MX$20.23
-43.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 IQD 783
$1.09 MX$20.64
-44.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 IQD 2,537
$3.96 MX$74.9
-51.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
$8.86 MX$167
48.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 IQD 1,334
$1.72 MX$32.53
-40.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 IQD 2,869
$2.61 MX$49.37
-16.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 482
$0.52 MX$9.74
-28.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
$26.59 MX$503
16.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.27 IQD 2,966
$3.24 MX$61.2
-29.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.5 IQD 1,958
$2.38 MX$44.94
-36.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.68 IQD 10K
$3.11 MX$58.7
146.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 IQD 634
$1.31 MX$24.85
-63.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
$30.3K MX$573K
-62.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.5K IQD 19M
$24K MX$453.6K
-39.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 IQD 92K
$84.2 MX$1,592
-16.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
$22.14 MX$419
11.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
$30.14 MX$570
60.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
$52 MX$983
-56.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
$18.72 MX$354
-9.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
$5.07 MX$95.9
75.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 IQD 165.2K
$200 MX$3,787
-36.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$785 IQD 1M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-85.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
$35.74 MX$676
-51.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
$39.8 MX$753
-64.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
$79 MX$1,493
-61.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.09 IQD 42K
$88.4 MX$1,671
-63.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 IQD 332K
$965 MX$18.3K
-73.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 IQD 193.2K
$474 MX$8,968
-68.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 IQD 452.1K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-79.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 IQD 317.3K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-79.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-62.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$339 IQD 443.7K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-95.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karbala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$504 IQD 659.7K
$792 MX$15K
-36.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
11.42
-50.35%

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

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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