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

😐 Solo nomad: Medina is 9.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 16.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medina is 16.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 27.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.43 SAR 20.37
$11.61 MX$200
-53.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 SAR 121
$42.75 MX$738
-24.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 SAR 30.66
$10.60 MX$183
-22.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 SAR 5.89
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 SAR 6.40
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.43 SAR 9.10
$3.59 MX$62.0
-32.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 SAR 3.03
$1.45 MX$25.08
-44.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 SAR 1.46
$0.90 MX$15.50
-56.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03 MX$52.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.56 MX$78.8
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SAR 6.37
$1.45 MX$25.07
17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 SAR 3.64
$1.83 MX$31.55
-46.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 SAR 8.58
$1.61 MX$27.77
42.24%
Eggs
$2.14 SAR 8.01
$2.54 MX$43.82
-15.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.47 SAR 24.25
$8.54 MX$148
-24.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.08 SAR 26.53
$8.47 MX$146
-16.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 SAR 47.24
$10.86 MX$188
16.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 SAR 8.94
$2.73 MX$47.13
-12.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 SAR 8.09
$1.49 MX$25.77
44.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 SAR 8.17
$1.94 MX$33.55
12.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 SAR 6.30
$2.16 MX$37.38
-22.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 SAR 5.34
$1.85 MX$31.88
-23.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 SAR 5.59
$2.19 MX$37.80
-31.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 SAR 3.68
$1.07 MX$18.52
-8.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 SAR 3.25
$1.08 MX$18.71
-19.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.36 SAR 5.11
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 SAR 6.20
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 SAR 6.06
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47 SAR 28.03
$4.06 MX$70.1
83.99%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.46 MX$181
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.65 MX$28.56
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.55 MX$44.01
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 SAR 3.93
$0.56 MX$9.60
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.99 SAR 142
$26.20 MX$453
45.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 SAR 5.13
$3.14 MX$54.2
-56.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 SAR 6.41
$2.37 MX$40.96
-27.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.52 SAR 20.69
$3.24 MX$56.0
70.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 SAR 2.23
$1.31 MX$22.70
-54.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K SAR 80.0K
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-30.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K SAR 79.5K
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-11.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 SAR 764
$83.1 MX$1,436
145.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.64 SAR 122
$22.15 MX$383
47.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$105 SAR 394
$29.37 MX$507
257.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.5 SAR 287
$51.2 MX$884
49.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.72 SAR 32.71
$18.69 MX$323
-53.34%
Cinema Ticket
$13.27 SAR 49.75
$4.89 MX$84.4
171.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$292 SAR 1,093
$199 MX$3,431
46.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,490 SAR 28.1K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
43.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.57 SAR 137
$35.93 MX$621
1.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 SAR 199
$39.39 MX$680
34.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 SAR 246
$80.3 MX$1,387
-18.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1 SAR 364
$87.6 MX$1,512
10.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 SAR 1,628
$963 MX$16.6K
-54.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$558 SAR 2,093
$482 MX$8,326
15.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$718 SAR 2,691
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-56.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 SAR 1,568
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-64.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,297 SAR 8,612
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-41.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,313 SAR 4,922
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-79.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,325 SAR 4,967
$726 MX$12.5K
82.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
11.42
-73.73%

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

Last update for Medina: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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