🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $526 in Masjed Soleyman versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $836 in Masjed Soleyman versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,146 in Masjed Soleyman versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Masjed Soleyman costs roughly 59% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Masjed Soleyman61% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.96$3.96
$11.73MX$203
-66.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.02$17.02
$41.62MX$720
-59.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.39$4.39
$10.64MX$184
-58.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.62$0.62
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04$1.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.14$1.14
$3.52MX$60.9
-67.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46$0.46
$1.51MX$26.12
-69.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00$1.00
$0.97MX$16.84
3.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95MX$51.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45MX$77.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62$0.62
$1.38MX$23.93
-55.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56$0.56
$1.89MX$32.72
-70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88$1.88
$1.64MX$28.32
14.63%
Eggs
$1.18$1.18
$2.51MX$43.34
-52.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$8.34MX$144
-58.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$8.34MX$144
-61.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.66$9.66
$10.73MX$186
-9.97%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86$0.86
$2.60MX$45.04
-66.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39$1.39
$1.46MX$25.20
-4.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86$0.86
$1.90MX$32.87
-54.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59$0.59
$2.08MX$35.91
-71.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52$0.52
$1.78MX$30.71
-70.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46$0.46
$2.19MX$37.80
-79.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59$0.59
$1.04MX$17.99
-43.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25$0.25
$1.08MX$18.62
-76.85%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.51$0.51
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.50$0.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39$1.39
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18$2.18
$4.08MX$70.6
-46.57%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.32MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.61
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58MX$44.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22$0.22
$0.51MX$8.81
-56.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05$10.05
$26.46MX$458
-62.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.36$0.36
$3.26MX$56.4
-88.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29$0.29
$2.49MX$43.09
-88.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.02$2.02
$3.25MX$56.2
-37.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74$0.74
$1.31MX$22.61
-43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$72.0K$72.0K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
137.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.2K$55.2K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
135.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.79$15.79
$82.9MX$1,433
-80.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.05$2.05
$22.22MX$384
-90.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.85$5.85
$29.34MX$507
-80.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.87$15.87
$51.6MX$893
-69.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.71$12.71
$18.32MX$317
-30.62%
Cinema Ticket
$1.46$1.46
$5.07MX$87.6
-71.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116$116
$201MX$3,473
-42.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,955$1,955
$5,212MX$90.1K
-62.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.64$22.64
$36.92MX$639
-38.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.51$24.51
$39.79MX$688
-38.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112$112
$78.5MX$1,357
42.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7$68.7
$87.1MX$1,506
-21.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286$286
$973MX$16.8K
-70.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203$203
$468MX$8,090
-56.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$624$624
$1,641MX$28.4K
-62.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315$315
$1,221MX$21.1K
-74.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,253$1,253
$3,946MX$68.3K
-68.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$592$592
$6,498MX$112.4K
-90.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masjed Soleyman
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.24
11.42
94.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Masjed Soleyman: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Masjed Soleyman and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Masjed Soleyman vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $106 vs $249 per month, with Masjed Soleyman cheaper across the board.
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
Masjed Soleyman vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Masjed Soleyman or Playa del Carmen?
Masjed Soleyman wins on cost – living expenses run 146% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Masjed Soleyman the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Masjed Soleyman vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $789 in Masjed Soleyman and $1,945 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Masjed Soleyman vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Masjed Soleyman versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Masjed Soleyman and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $116 in Masjed Soleyman versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Masjed Soleyman or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 134% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Masjed Soleyman or Playa del Carmen?
At $526 in Masjed Soleyman versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Masjed Soleyman but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Masjed Soleyman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Masjed Soleyman or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Masjed Soleyman delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $526 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Masjed Soleyman hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Masjed Soleyman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Masjed Soleyman vs other spots: cost of living compared