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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Mashhad vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Mashhad vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,122 per month in Mashhad vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mashhad is about 65% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mashhad and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 67% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 $3.02

$11.87 MX$204

-74.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 $19.84

$42.90 MX$736

-53.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 $4.89

$10.65 MX$183

-54.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

Cappuccino

$1.15 $1.15

$3.45 MX$59.2

-66.67%

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

$0.40 $0.40

$1.50 MX$25.81

-73.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.95 MX$16.28

-49.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$1.38 MX$23.61

-59.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 $0.25

$1.85 MX$31.70

-86.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.61 MX$27.65

16.15%

Eggs

$1.15 $1.15

$2.59 MX$44.51

-55.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$8.26 MX$142

-73.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$8.37 MX$144

-70.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$10.66 MX$183

-1.97%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.63 MX$45.12

-67.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.49 MX$25.53

-17.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.92 MX$32.94

-53.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 $0.64

$2.09 MX$35.81

-69.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.86 MX$31.88

-74.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$2.26 MX$38.81

-78.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.06 MX$18.23

-54.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$1.09 MX$18.67

-70.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 $0.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 $2.65

$4.15 MX$71.2

-36.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 $0.18

$0.54 MX$9.30

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 $4.43

$26.94 MX$462

-83.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 $0.34

$3.13 MX$53.7

-89.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 $0.49

$2.51 MX$43.09

-80.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.15 MX$54.1

-35.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.27 MX$21.88

-33.86%

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

$59.3K $59.3K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

95.11%

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

$70.0K $70.0K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

196.86%

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

$13.97 $13.97

$83.0 MX$1,425

-83.17%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$22.71 MX$390

-89.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.77 $5.77

$29.46 MX$506

-80.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.68 $18.68

$51.0 MX$875

-63.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.15 $15.15

$18.33 MX$315

-17.35%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$4.93 MX$84.5

-58.62%

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

$45.17 $45.17

$197 MX$3,386

-77.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$615 $615

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-88.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.71 $22.71

$36.90 MX$633

-38.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.38 $37.38

$39.89 MX$685

-6.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 $95.7

$80.0 MX$1,373

19.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 $85.8

$89.5 MX$1,536

-4.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 $213

$956 MX$16.4K

-77.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 $146

$477 MX$8,189

-69.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 $458

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-72.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 $325

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-73.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,151 $1,151

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-70.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$676 $676

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-89.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$254 $254

$667 MX$11.4K

-61.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.5

11.42

79.51%

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

Last update for Mashhad: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Mashhad versus $956 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 163% 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 Mashhad versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $250 – making Mashhad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 183% more than Mashhad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $675 per month in Mashhad and $1,906 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 Mashhad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $450 in Mashhad and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 508% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $450, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mashhad costs $450 versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Mashhad. 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.