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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $562 per month in Mahdia vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $897 per month in Mahdia vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,232 per month in Mahdia vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mahdia is about 57% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mahdia and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia 59% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 TND 7.61

$11.71 MX$198

-77.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.48 TND 59.2

$46.59 MX$787

-56.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 TND 14.01

$11.65 MX$197

-58.37%

Cappuccino

$0.94 TND 2.73

$4.09 MX$69.2

-77.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 TND 1.75

$1.37 MX$23.23

-55.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 TND 0.55

$0.83 MX$14.09

-77.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 TND 2.93

$3.35 MX$56.7

-69.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 TND 4.33

$6.91 MX$117

-78.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.45 TND 1.29

$1.73 MX$29.19

-73.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 TND 0.77

$2.26 MX$38.20

-88.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 TND 3.94

$1.77 MX$29.90

-23.16%

Eggs

$1.64 TND 4.74

$2.73 MX$46.18

-39.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 TND 34.56

$9.18 MX$155

30.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 TND 15.16

$8.92 MX$151

-41.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.99 TND 43.33

$12.60 MX$213

18.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 TND 8.21

$3.02 MX$51.1

-5.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 TND 8.49

$1.57 MX$26.54

87.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 TND 4.26

$2.13 MX$35.92

-30.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TND 2.16

$2.26 MX$38.27

-66.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 TND 1.85

$2.00 MX$33.87

-68.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 TND 1.02

$2.06 MX$34.89

-83.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 TND 1.20

$1.18 MX$19.94

-64.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 TND 0.94

$1.20 MX$20.35

-73.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.60 TND 10.42

$4.63 MX$78.3

-22.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.52 TND 10.18

$10.69 MX$181

-67.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 TND 4.59

$1.62 MX$27.37

-1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 TND 3.75

$2.88 MX$48.69

-54.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 TND 0.94

$0.57 MX$9.69

-42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.45 TND 38.90

$29.83 MX$504

-54.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 TND 0.93

$5.45 MX$92.1

-94.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 TND 0.81

$3.70 MX$62.6

-92.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 TND 2.60

$1.55 MX$26.25

-41.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.8K TND 118.0K

$22.3K MX$377.3K

82.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K TND 119.6K

$25.9K MX$438.5K

59.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$56.6 TND 164

$89.1 MX$1,506

-36.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.52 TND 21.74

$25.04 MX$423

-69.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.75 TND 60.0

$31.50 MX$532

-34.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TND 60.8

$67.8 MX$1,145

-68.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 TND 21.75

$28.92 MX$489

-74.00%

Cinema Ticket

$7.02 TND 20.29

$5.05 MX$85.3

39.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$111 TND 320

$225 MX$3,802

-50.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,027 TND 2,968

$4,222 MX$71.4K

-75.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.31 TND 117

$47.44 MX$802

-15.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.83 TND 101

$44.98 MX$760

-22.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 TND 229

$82.0 MX$1,386

-3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.10 TND 69.7

$92.1 MX$1,556

-73.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$130 TND 376

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-87.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 TND 295

$405 MX$6,850

-74.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 TND 867

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-84.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 TND 512

$1,301 MX$22.0K

-86.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$676 TND 1,953

$3,995 MX$67.5K

-83.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$203 TND 586

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-96.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 TND 682

$749 MX$12.7K

-68.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.33

11.45

-9.78%

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

Last update for Mahdia: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Mahdia versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 217% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Mahdia versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $277 – making Mahdia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Mahdia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 130%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $843 per month in Mahdia and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Mahdia and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $562, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Mahdia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.