🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,184 in Khafji versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,816 in Khafji versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,449 in Khafji versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Khafji costs roughly 6% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Khafji11% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.29SAR 12.35
$11.95MX$208
-72.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2SAR 203
$41.94MX$731
29.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21SAR 19.53
$10.42MX$182
-50.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.96SAR 3.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.14
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.01SAR 11.29
$3.51MX$61.3
-14.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85SAR 3.20
$1.52MX$26.44
-44.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37SAR 1.39
$0.91MX$15.88
-59.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.04MX$53.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.37MX$76.2
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.42MX$24.78
19.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46SAR 5.48
$1.83MX$31.93
-20.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10SAR 7.88
$1.63MX$28.51
28.83%
Eggs
$2.19SAR 8.23
$2.54MX$44.29
-13.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.23SAR 23.36
$8.57MX$149
-27.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.17SAR 26.92
$8.49MX$148
-15.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87SAR 37.02
$10.80MX$188
-8.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.94
$2.75MX$48.04
-22.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.77
$1.44MX$25.05
6.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46SAR 5.48
$1.89MX$32.90
-22.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.95
$2.17MX$37.84
-26.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.58
$1.78MX$31.03
-31.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.01
$2.22MX$38.79
-39.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35SAR 5.08
$1.07MX$18.64
26.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$1.08MX$18.83
-49.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.26SAR 15.99
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57SAR 5.88
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94SAR 7.29
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06SAR 30.23
$4.15MX$72.3
94.22%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.45MX$182
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74MX$30.40
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58MX$45.01
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.95
$0.51MX$8.95
105.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.42SAR 148
$25.94MX$452
51.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40SAR 12.75
$3.21MX$56.0
5.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85SAR 6.94
$2.50MX$43.64
-26.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.43SAR 50.4
$3.19MX$55.6
321.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.38
$1.26MX$21.91
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KSAR 84.3K
$29.7KMX$517.7K
-24.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KSAR 79.7K
$23.7KMX$413.0K
-10.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118SAR 442
$82.0MX$1,430
43.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.00SAR 143
$22.73MX$396
67.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3SAR 238
$29.42MX$513
115.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.2SAR 323
$52.2MX$910
65.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.90SAR 135
$18.45MX$322
94.58%
Cinema Ticket
$15.50SAR 58.2
$4.93MX$86.0
214.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$134SAR 502
$202MX$3,519
-33.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,072SAR 15.3K
$5,217MX$91.0K
-21.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3SAR 253
$35.93MX$627
87.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.7SAR 254
$40.33MX$703
67.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.2SAR 350
$79.9MX$1,393
16.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0SAR 315
$89.3MX$1,557
-5.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$444SAR 1,665
$948MX$16.5K
-53.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382SAR 1,432
$465MX$8,114
-18.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845SAR 3,170
$1,630MX$28.4K
-48.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$633SAR 2,374
$1,193MX$20.8K
-46.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,933MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,428MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$658MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
11.42
-62.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khafji: July 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $444 in Khafji and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Khafji vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $252, with Khafji cheaper for home cooking.
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
Khafji vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Khafji?
Khafji is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,775 in Khafji and $1,888 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Khafji and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $444 in Khafji versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Khafji and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,184 per month in Khafji versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Khafji runs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Khafji or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,184 in Khafji versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khafji but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khafji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Khafji or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Khafji is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khafji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.