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 $575 per month in Mahdia vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $880 per month in Mahdia vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Mahdia vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mahdia is about 56% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mahdia and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia 57% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.59 TND 7.52

$11.73 MX$203

-77.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.57 TND 59.7

$41.62 MX$720

-50.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.38 TND 9.81

$10.64 MX$184

-68.23%

Cappuccino

$0.71 TND 2.05

$3.52 MX$60.9

-79.83%

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

$0.57 TND 1.65

$1.51 MX$26.12

-62.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 TND 0.62

$0.97 MX$16.84

-78.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 TND 2.89

$2.95 MX$51.0

-66.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 TND 4.32

$4.45 MX$77.0

-66.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.44 TND 1.27

$1.38 MX$23.93

-68.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.53

$1.89 MX$32.72

-90.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 TND 4.45

$1.64 MX$28.32

-6.71%

Eggs

$1.57 TND 4.55

$2.51 MX$43.34

-37.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 TND 32.43

$8.34 MX$144

33.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.57 TND 16.17

$8.34 MX$144

-33.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 TND 38.68

$10.73 MX$186

24.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 TND 6.56

$2.60 MX$45.04

-13.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 TND 8.21

$1.46 MX$25.20

93.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 TND 2.93

$1.90 MX$32.87

-46.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 TND 2.01

$2.08 MX$35.91

-66.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 TND 1.90

$1.78 MX$30.71

-62.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.32 TND 0.94

$2.19 MX$37.80

-85.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 TND 0.94

$1.04 MX$17.99

-69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 TND 0.90

$1.08 MX$18.62

-71.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 TND 10.25

$4.08 MX$70.6

-13.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.45 TND 10.02

$10.32 MX$178

-66.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TND 3.31

$1.71 MX$29.61

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.19

$2.58 MX$44.54

-57.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 TND 1.03

$0.51 MX$8.81

-31.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.07 TND 29.24

$26.46 MX$458

-61.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.30 TND 0.87

$3.26 MX$56.4

-90.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 TND 0.70

$2.49 MX$43.09

-90.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 TND 22.23

$3.25 MX$56.2

135.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 TND 2.35

$1.31 MX$22.61

-38.17%

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

$35.4K TND 102.9K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

17.00%

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

$34.7K TND 100.7K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

47.95%

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

$46.34 TND 135

$82.9 MX$1,433

-44.08%

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

$9.81 TND 28.49

$22.22 MX$384

-55.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.97 TND 43.48

$29.34 MX$507

-48.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.99 TND 61.0

$51.6 MX$893

-59.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.56 TND 21.95

$18.32 MX$317

-58.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 TND 13.37

$5.07 MX$87.6

-9.27%

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

$109 TND 317

$201 MX$3,473

-45.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,007 TND 2,925

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-80.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.01 TND 131

$36.92 MX$639

21.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.01 TND 98.8

$39.79 MX$688

-14.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 TND 299

$78.5 MX$1,357

31.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.42 TND 68.0

$87.1 MX$1,506

-73.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$142 TND 411

$973 MX$16.8K

-85.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 TND 389

$468 MX$8,090

-71.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 TND 839

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-82.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 TND 462

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-86.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,030 TND 2,992

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-73.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$645 TND 1,873

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-90.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$238 TND 691

$664 MX$11.5K

-64.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

11.42

19.09%

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

Last update for Mahdia: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $142 in Mahdia versus $973 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 179% 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 $21.00 in Mahdia versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $249 – 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 125%, 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 $863 per month in Mahdia and $1,945 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 $109 per month in Mahdia and $201 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 40% 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 $575, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.