😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,820 in Nazareth versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,138 in Nazareth versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,456 in Nazareth versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Nazareth is roughly 123% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Nazareth is 106% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.57₪80.8
$11.60MX$200
129.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9₪179
$47.11MX$812
25.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.87₪30.01
$11.88MX$205
-16.92%
Cappuccino
$4.70₪14.30
$3.98MX$68.6
18.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35₪7.16
$1.43MX$24.60
64.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48₪4.50
$0.82MX$14.22
80.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.48₪31.85
$3.19MX$55.0
228.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.20₪31.02
$6.79MX$117
50.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.63₪7.99
$1.68MX$28.89
56.55%
White Bread(500g)
$4.79₪14.55
$2.20MX$37.88
117.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15₪9.56
$1.71MX$29.45
84.21%
Eggs
$4.57₪13.89
$2.74MX$47.26
66.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22₪40.20
$9.58MX$165
38.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$20.99₪63.8
$9.01MX$155
132.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.56₪68.6
$12.81MX$221
76.11%
Apples(1kg)
$6.43₪19.54
$2.89MX$49.81
122.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90₪8.80
$1.50MX$25.81
93.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87₪8.74
$2.15MX$37.03
33.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.66₪11.14
$2.26MX$38.96
61.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78₪5.41
$1.98MX$34.15
-10.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44₪4.37
$1.99MX$34.30
-27.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35₪7.15
$1.23MX$21.28
91.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.20₪6.68
$1.20MX$20.63
83.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.96₪30.29
$4.55MX$78.5
118.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.15₪39.98
$10.37MX$179
26.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.38₪10.28
$1.62MX$27.91
108.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04₪12.29
$2.88MX$49.67
40.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66₪8.08
$0.60MX$10.35
343.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.9₪282
$28.80MX$497
222.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43₪13.48
$5.39MX$92.9
-17.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13₪3.44
$3.73MX$64.3
-69.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.27₪95.1
$5.77MX$99.5
441.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.57₪7.83
$1.54MX$26.48
66.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$57.7K₪175.5K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
156.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.2K₪176.9K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
123.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193₪586
$91.4MX$1,576
110.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.94₪45.42
$25.20MX$435
-40.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4₪165
$31.24MX$539
74.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$83.2₪253
$67.2MX$1,159
23.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.70₪50.8
$4.86MX$83.8
243.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,317₪4,004
$224MX$3,856
488.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.7K₪96.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
649.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126₪382
$47.10MX$812
166.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2₪201
$44.29MX$764
49.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$174₪529
$80.1MX$1,381
117.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$260₪789
$92.7MX$1,598
180.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,491₪4,534
$1,063MX$18.3K
40.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,274₪3,873
$390MX$6,728
226.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,677₪8,138
$2,149MX$37.1K
24.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,917₪5,826
$1,272MX$21.9K
50.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.1K₪33.7K
$4,001MX$69.0K
176.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,865₪26.9K
$6,502MX$112.1K
36.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nazareth
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.2
11.45
-54.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nazareth: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,491 in Nazareth and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Nazareth vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $492 vs $276 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 123% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nazareth and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $4,230 in Nazareth and $1,899 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nazareth compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,491 in Nazareth versus $1,063 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 $2,820 per month in Nazareth versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 123% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nazareth compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 222% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,820 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 $1,266 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 123% less than in Nazareth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.