Cost of Living Comparison Between Mazar-i-Sharif and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Mazar-i-Sharif and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $289 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $453 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $617 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Mazar-i-Sharif costs roughly 78% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mazar-i-Sharif 79% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.32 ؋149

$11.71 MX$198

-80.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.11 ؋974

$46.59 MX$787

-67.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.84 ؋247

$11.65 MX$197

-67.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.50 ؋484

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.57 ؋488

Cappuccino

$1.17 ؋75.6

$4.09 MX$69.1

-71.39%

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

$0.54 ؋34.68

$1.37 MX$23.21

-60.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ؋18.68

$0.83 MX$14.08

-65.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 ؋38.21

$1.73 MX$29.16

-65.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 ؋10.16

$2.26 MX$38.17

-92.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 ؋130

$1.77 MX$29.88

14.12%

Eggs

$1.61 ؋104

$2.73 MX$46.14

-41.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.76 ؋500

$9.18 MX$155

-15.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 ؋217

$8.92 MX$151

-62.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 ؋397

$12.60 MX$213

-51.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.56 ؋35.89

$3.02 MX$51.0

-81.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 ؋71.5

$1.57 MX$26.52

-29.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 ؋52.3

$2.13 MX$35.89

-61.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ؋40.97

$2.26 MX$38.23

-71.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 ؋31.89

$2.00 MX$33.84

-75.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ؋24.54

$2.06 MX$34.86

-81.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ؋32.77

$1.18 MX$19.92

-56.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ؋20.00

$1.20 MX$20.33

-74.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.81 ؋117

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.56 ؋101

$4.63 MX$78.3

-66.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.65

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 ؋50.3

$0.57 MX$9.68

36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ؋96.8

$5.98 MX$101

-74.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ؋94.1

$1.55 MX$26.23

-5.81%

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

$10.1K ؋650.8K

$22.3K MX$377.0K

-54.79%

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

$25.9K MX$438.2K

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

$79.4 ؋5,120

$89.1 MX$1,505

-10.89%

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

$16.71 ؋1,077

$25.04 MX$423

-33.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.48 ؋740

$67.8 MX$1,145

-83.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.71 ؋239

$28.92 MX$488

-87.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.59 ؋296

$5.05 MX$85.3

-9.11%

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

$76.0 ؋4,902

$225 MX$3,798

-66.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.04 ؋840

$47.44 MX$801

-72.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.26 ؋1,178

$92.1 MX$1,555

-80.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,844

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$226 ؋14.5K

$749 MX$12.6K

-69.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 232% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15.00 in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $105 vs $277 per month, with Mazar-i-Sharif cheaper across the board.

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

Mazar-i-Sharif vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mazar-i-Sharif is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 348% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 232% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 165% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $289 per month in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 348% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $289 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mazar-i-Sharif but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Mazar-i-Sharif the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mazar-i-Sharif is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mazar-i-Sharif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 348% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.