😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,295 in Nazareth versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,135 in Nazareth versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,976 in Nazareth versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Nazareth is roughly 78% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Nazareth is 71% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.85₪65.1
$11.94MX$209
83.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.2₪257
$42.75MX$748
101.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.77₪46.99
$10.59MX$185
48.91%
Cappuccino
$4.50₪13.41
$3.62MX$63.4
24.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01₪8.97
$1.47MX$25.69
104.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83₪5.47
$0.94MX$16.51
94.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.31₪24.76
$3.09MX$54.1
168.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84₪20.37
$4.46MX$78.0
53.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97₪5.87
$1.43MX$24.94
37.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05₪9.10
$1.88MX$32.97
62.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.08₪9.16
$1.63MX$28.50
88.96%
Eggs
$3.88₪11.57
$2.64MX$46.26
46.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.68₪25.88
$8.21MX$144
5.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.95₪32.62
$8.29MX$145
32.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.48₪64.0
$11.10MX$194
93.51%
Apples(1kg)
$4.91₪14.65
$2.65MX$46.40
85.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52₪7.50
$1.50MX$26.26
68.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32₪6.91
$1.99MX$34.79
16.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32₪6.92
$2.08MX$36.33
11.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11₪6.28
$1.79MX$31.29
17.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64₪4.90
$2.18MX$38.09
-24.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10₪6.25
$1.08MX$18.84
94.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53₪4.57
$1.04MX$18.15
47.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28₪30.64
$3.97MX$69.5
158.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.90₪50.4
$10.20MX$179
65.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60₪7.75
$1.73MX$30.22
50.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₪5.17
$2.50MX$43.71
-30.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37₪4.08
$0.52MX$9.07
163.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.90₪83.2
$26.97MX$472
3.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.14₪12.33
$3.14MX$55.0
31.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87₪2.58
$2.40MX$42.04
-63.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.67₪124
$3.09MX$54.0
1248.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00₪5.96
$1.27MX$22.28
57.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K₪112.7K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
22.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K₪119.8K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
72.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$255₪760
$82.0MX$1,435
210.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.41₪36.97
$22.45MX$393
-44.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.99₪83.4
$29.66MX$519
-5.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.4₪186
$51.9MX$908
20.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.55₪55.3
$18.67MX$327
-0.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.08₪33.01
$4.97MX$87.0
122.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$534₪1,591
$198MX$3,462
169.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1K₪53.9K
$5,273MX$92.3K
243.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7₪276
$36.34MX$636
155.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7₪166
$40.05MX$701
39.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129₪384
$79.9MX$1,398
61.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161₪479
$88.9MX$1,555
80.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013₪3,019
$963MX$16.9K
5.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$922₪2,746
$465MX$8,133
98.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147₪3,419
$1,596MX$27.9K
-28.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$984₪2,933
$1,209MX$21.2K
-18.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,320₪6,913
$720MX$12.6K
222.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
11.42
-65.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nazareth: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Nazareth and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Nazareth pays 222% 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: $86.0 in Nazareth vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Nazareth vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nazareth or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Nazareth. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nazareth or Playa del Carmen?
Nazareth pays 222% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nazareth vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Nazareth versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Nazareth compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,295 per month in Nazareth versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nazareth vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 3% less than in Nazareth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Nazareth or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,295 in Nazareth, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nazareth. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nazareth or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Nazareth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.