🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,186 in Khafji versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,822 in Khafji versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,457 in Khafji versus $2,999 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
$3.12SAR 11.71
$11.67MX$202
-73.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6SAR 201
$41.88MX$726
27.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95SAR 18.57
$10.40MX$180
-52.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95SAR 3.58
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58SAR 5.93
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.86SAR 10.71
$3.61MX$62.6
-20.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SAR 3.14
$1.47MX$25.45
-42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38SAR 1.42
$0.91MX$15.80
-58.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03MX$52.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.47MX$77.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$1.38MX$23.83
23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39SAR 5.22
$1.84MX$31.93
-24.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.95
$1.61MX$27.82
31.68%
Eggs
$2.21SAR 8.28
$2.57MX$44.52
-14.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09SAR 22.83
$8.49MX$147
-28.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.42SAR 27.81
$8.49MX$147
-12.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.86SAR 36.99
$10.99MX$190
-10.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.26
$2.73MX$47.25
-19.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.80
$1.50MX$25.92
3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.38
$1.96MX$33.93
-27.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.20
$2.12MX$36.70
-22.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.86MX$32.30
-31.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.04
$2.17MX$37.67
-38.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31SAR 4.93
$1.07MX$18.59
22.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.06
$1.05MX$18.18
-47.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.21SAR 15.78
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.12
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02SAR 7.57
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.81SAR 29.30
$4.19MX$72.6
86.40%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.28MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.67MX$28.87
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49MX$43.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SAR 3.97
$0.54MX$9.37
96.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.63SAR 152
$26.27MX$455
54.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27SAR 12.28
$3.10MX$53.8
5.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85SAR 6.94
$2.46MX$42.66
-24.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.39SAR 50.2
$3.24MX$56.1
313.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.25
$1.26MX$21.83
-52.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KSAR 85.9K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-24.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KSAR 79.0K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
-10.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 440
$84.0MX$1,456
39.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.81SAR 146
$22.21MX$385
74.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5SAR 238
$29.65MX$514
114.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.2SAR 334
$52.6MX$912
69.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37SAR 133
$18.34MX$318
92.86%
Cinema Ticket
$15.45SAR 57.9
$4.95MX$85.7
212.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$134SAR 501
$198MX$3,438
-32.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,949SAR 14.8K
$5,322MX$92.2K
-25.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5SAR 257
$35.95MX$623
90.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.3SAR 253
$40.06MX$694
68.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3SAR 339
$78.8MX$1,365
14.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9SAR 322
$86.5MX$1,499
-0.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$441SAR 1,652
$977MX$16.9K
-54.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374SAR 1,403
$471MX$8,158
-20.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840SAR 3,151
$1,595MX$27.6K
-47.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SAR 2,334
$1,215MX$21.1K
-48.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,657SAR 9,965
$4,032MX$69.9K
-34.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,376SAR 5,159
$6,579MX$114.0K
-79.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khafji
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Khafji and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Khafji vs $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 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 $1,779 in Khafji and $1,891 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: $441 in Khafji versus $977 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,186 per month in Khafji versus $1,261 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 55% 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 Khafji or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,186 in Khafji versus $1,261 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.