🙂A single person spends $1,052 per month in Najran vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,666 per month in Najran vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,280 per month in Najran vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Najran is about 19% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Najran and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Najran21% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.95SAR 29.84
$11.73MX$202
-32.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.98SAR 86.2
$41.78MX$719
-45.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.89SAR 33.35
$10.41MX$179
-14.60%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.62SAR 6.08
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36SAR 5.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.44SAR 16.67
$3.61MX$62.1
22.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80SAR 3.00
$1.46MX$25.06
-45.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.96
$0.97MX$16.70
-73.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.92MX$50.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62MX$79.5
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32SAR 8.70
$1.43MX$24.59
62.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01SAR 3.80
$1.90MX$32.70
-46.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39SAR 8.97
$1.57MX$26.95
52.23%
Eggs
$2.14SAR 8.03
$2.64MX$45.34
-18.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.07SAR 26.51
$8.44MX$145
-16.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.81SAR 21.82
$8.58MX$148
-32.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.43SAR 54.1
$11.00MX$189
31.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75SAR 6.55
$2.70MX$46.51
-35.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97SAR 7.39
$1.51MX$25.92
30.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.26
$1.91MX$32.93
-12.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.83
$2.17MX$37.37
-28.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23SAR 4.62
$1.87MX$32.25
-34.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.98
$2.23MX$38.43
-40.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36SAR 5.09
$1.08MX$18.60
25.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69SAR 2.58
$1.07MX$18.47
-35.51%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.86SAR 10.72
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SAR 6.09
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09SAR 7.84
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20SAR 30.76
$4.16MX$71.6
97.12%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.29MX$177
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.68MX$28.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.53MX$43.59
-
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.13
$0.55MX$9.53
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.67SAR 149
$26.29MX$452
50.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.59SAR 9.72
$3.20MX$55.0
-19.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SAR 7.13
$2.46MX$42.37
-22.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.56SAR 50.9
$3.20MX$55.0
323.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.58SAR 2.17
$1.32MX$22.72
-56.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KSAR 99.2K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-12.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KSAR 84.6K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
-3.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 397
$81.4MX$1,400
30.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.24SAR 125
$22.41MX$386
48.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7SAR 269
$29.97MX$516
139.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.5SAR 325
$51.6MX$887
67.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.06SAR 132
$18.39MX$316
90.65%
Cinema Ticket
$15.45SAR 58.0
$5.16MX$88.9
199.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$348SAR 1,305
$202MX$3,471
72.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,849SAR 25.7K
$5,311MX$91.4K
28.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0SAR 221
$35.61MX$613
65.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.0SAR 225
$40.37MX$695
48.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8SAR 296
$78.6MX$1,353
0.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7SAR 307
$86.9MX$1,495
-5.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$345SAR 1,294
$950MX$16.3K
-63.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198SAR 742
$478MX$8,227
-58.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594SAR 2,231
$1,621MX$27.9K
-63.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$430SAR 1,612
$1,223MX$21.0K
-64.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,324SAR 8,720
$4,009MX$69.0K
-42.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,357SAR 5,093
$6,473MX$111.4K
-79.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,757SAR 6,592
$673MX$11.6K
161.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
11.42
-61.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Najran: June 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Najran versus $950 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 161% higher in Najran, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Najran versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $254 – making Najran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Najran vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Najran or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 23% more than Najran, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Najran vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,578 per month in Najran and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Najran or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Najran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Najran vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Najran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Najran and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $348 per month in Najran and $202 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Najran or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Najran, where all-in costs run around $1,052, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Najran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Najran or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Najran costs $1,052 versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Najran compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Najran or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Najran. 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.