Cost of Living Comparison Between Khamis Mushayt and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Khamis Mushayt and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $952 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,562 in Khamis Mushayt versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,172 in Khamis Mushayt versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Khamis Mushayt costs roughly 27% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Khamis Mushayt 29% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.83 SAR 25.65
$11.73 MX$203
-41.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.60 SAR 160
$41.62 MX$720
2.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.94 SAR 26.06
$10.64 MX$184
-34.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 SAR 6.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 SAR 6.70
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.35 SAR 20.09
$3.52 MX$60.9
51.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 SAR 2.82
$1.51 MX$26.12
-50.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 SAR 0.97
$0.97 MX$16.84
-73.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95 MX$51.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45 MX$77.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 SAR 6.56
$1.38 MX$23.93
26.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.35 SAR 1.32
$1.89 MX$32.72
-81.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 SAR 7.21
$1.64 MX$28.32
17.07%
Eggs
$4.37 SAR 16.39
$2.51 MX$43.34
74.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.63 SAR 24.87
$8.34 MX$144
-20.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.67 SAR 28.78
$8.34 MX$144
-8.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.41 SAR 57.8
$10.73 MX$186
43.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 SAR 8.40
$2.60 MX$45.04
-13.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 SAR 5.38
$1.46 MX$25.20
-2.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 SAR 3.93
$1.90 MX$32.87
-44.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 SAR 7.40
$2.08 MX$35.91
-5.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 SAR 6.40
$1.78 MX$30.71
-4.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 SAR 5.20
$2.19 MX$37.80
-36.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 SAR 4.67
$1.04 MX$17.99
20.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 SAR 2.43
$1.08 MX$18.62
-39.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.11 SAR 11.68
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 SAR 6.35
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 SAR 7.87
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.83 SAR 29.37
$4.08 MX$70.6
91.91%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.32 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71 MX$29.61
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 MX$44.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 SAR 4.13
$0.51 MX$8.81
115.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.19 SAR 151
$26.46 MX$458
51.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 SAR 9.93
$3.26 MX$56.4
-18.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 SAR 7.59
$2.49 MX$43.09
-18.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.45 SAR 50.5
$3.25 MX$56.2
313.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 SAR 2.37
$1.31 MX$22.61
-51.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K SAR 99.5K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-12.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K SAR 84.1K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-4.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SAR 399
$82.9 MX$1,433
28.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.38 SAR 129
$22.22 MX$384
54.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 SAR 268
$29.34 MX$507
143.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.5 SAR 336
$51.6 MX$893
73.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37 SAR 133
$18.32 MX$317
93.07%
Cinema Ticket
$15.61 SAR 58.6
$5.07 MX$87.6
207.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 SAR 1,300
$201 MX$3,473
72.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,039 SAR 26.4K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
35.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 SAR 221
$36.92 MX$639
59.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7 SAR 228
$39.79 MX$688
52.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 SAR 292
$78.5 MX$1,357
-0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3 SAR 309
$87.1 MX$1,506
-5.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$159 SAR 597
$973 MX$16.8K
-83.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 SAR 404
$468 MX$8,090
-76.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$406 SAR 1,523
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-75.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 SAR 1,059
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-76.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,505 SAR 9,402
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-36.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,144 SAR 4,294
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-82.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khamis Mushayt
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 SAR 6,078
$664 MX$11.5K
143.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
11.42
-61.30%

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

Last update for Khamis Mushayt: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Khamis Mushayt and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Khamis Mushayt pays 144% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Khamis Mushayt vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $249, with Khamis Mushayt 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
Khamis Mushayt vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Khamis Mushayt or Playa del Carmen?
Khamis Mushayt wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khamis Mushayt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Khamis Mushayt or Playa del Carmen?
Khamis Mushayt pays 144% more on average, 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 Khamis Mushayt vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Khamis Mushayt versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Khamis Mushayt vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Khamis Mushayt and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $346 in Khamis Mushayt versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Khamis Mushayt or Playa del Carmen?
At $952 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khamis Mushayt but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khamis Mushayt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Khamis Mushayt or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Khamis Mushayt delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $952 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Khamis Mushayt hard to pass up.
How safe is Khamis Mushayt compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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