🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in Nablus versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,676 in Nablus versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,304 in Nablus versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Nablus costs roughly 19% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nablus22% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.65₪16.08
$11.73MX$203
-51.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.13₪97.2
$41.62MX$720
-18.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.57₪24.40
$10.64MX$184
-19.45%
Cappuccino
$2.13₪6.07
$3.52MX$60.9
-39.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₪1.70
$1.51MX$26.12
-60.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58₪1.64
$0.97MX$16.84
-40.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.28₪12.19
$2.95MX$51.0
45.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47₪9.88
$4.45MX$77.0
-22.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78₪5.07
$1.38MX$23.93
28.99%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91₪2.59
$1.89MX$32.72
-51.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15₪6.11
$1.64MX$28.32
31.10%
Eggs
$2.39₪6.82
$2.51MX$43.34
-4.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.32₪20.85
$8.34MX$144
-12.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.26₪23.51
$8.34MX$144
-0.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.01₪51.3
$10.73MX$186
67.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40₪6.83
$2.60MX$45.04
-7.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25₪3.56
$1.46MX$25.20
-14.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03₪2.94
$1.90MX$32.87
-45.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88₪5.36
$2.08MX$35.91
-9.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09₪3.09
$1.78MX$30.71
-38.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00₪2.85
$2.19MX$37.80
-54.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27₪3.62
$1.04MX$17.99
22.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₪2.51
$1.08MX$18.62
-18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.80₪22.20
$4.08MX$70.6
91.18%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.32MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57₪7.32
$1.71MX$29.61
50.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54₪7.23
$2.58MX$44.54
-1.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33₪9.48
$0.51MX$8.81
552.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.38₪104
$26.46MX$458
37.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.80₪7.96
$3.26MX$56.4
-14.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81₪2.32
$2.49MX$43.09
-67.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.95₪39.72
$3.25MX$56.2
329.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96₪5.59
$1.31MX$22.61
49.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K₪101.6K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
17.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K₪110.5K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
65.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.2₪240
$82.9MX$1,433
1.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.52₪41.33
$22.22MX$384
-34.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.04₪131
$29.34MX$507
56.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.9₪202
$51.6MX$893
37.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.61₪121
$18.32MX$317
132.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21₪26.21
$5.07MX$87.6
81.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199₪565
$201MX$3,473
-1.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,359₪9,564
$5,212MX$90.1K
-35.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5₪181
$36.92MX$639
72.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.85₪111
$39.79MX$688
-2.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7₪272
$78.5MX$1,357
21.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0₪208
$87.1MX$1,506
-16.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344₪979
$973MX$16.8K
-64.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$278₪791
$468MX$8,090
-40.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$650₪1,851
$1,641MX$28.4K
-60.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$567₪1,615
$1,221MX$21.1K
-53.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$788₪2,244
$3,946MX$68.3K
-80.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$645₪1,835
$6,498MX$112.4K
-90.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nablus
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.62
11.42
-50.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nablus: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Nablus and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Nablus vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $249 per month, with Nablus 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
Nablus vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Nablus?
Nablus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,571 in Nablus 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.
What is the rent difference between Nablus and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $344 in Nablus versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Nablus and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Nablus or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Nablus – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Nablus or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,048 in Nablus versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nablus but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Nablus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nablus or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Nablus 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nablus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.