😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $825 in 'ali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,329 in 'ali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,833 in 'ali.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 56% more expensive than 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, 'ali38% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$6.64BHD 2.50
79.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$52.3BHD 19.65
-18.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$5.39BHD 2.03
96.47%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$5.38BHD 2.02
-32.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.83BHD 0.31
77.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.36BHD 0.14
161.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$7.89BHD 2.97
-60.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$10.59BHD 3.98
-57.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.64BHD 0.62
-12.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.34BHD 0.50
40.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.41BHD 0.91
-32.37%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.37BHD 0.89
11.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.52BHD 3.20
-3.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.74BHD 2.91
7.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$10.32BHD 3.88
7.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.44BHD 0.92
8.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.03BHD 0.76
-26.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.67BHD 0.63
19.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.21BHD 0.46
71.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.88BHD 0.33
103.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.09BHD 0.41
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.44BHD 0.54
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.92BHD 0.35
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$6.82BHD 2.56
-41.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$18.33BHD 6.89
-44.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$3.39BHD 1.28
-48.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.14BHD 1.18
-20.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.50BHD 1.69
-30.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$3.90BHD 1.47
-38.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$26.30BHD 9.89
-88.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.56BHD 0.21
126.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$37.4KBHD 14.1K
-17.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.4KBHD 7,673
14.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$122BHD 45.73
-32.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$27.29BHD 10.26
-17.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$37.70BHD 14.18
-21.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$10.51BHD 3.95
-52.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$389BHD 146
-49.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$8,818BHD 3,316
-40.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$45.91BHD 17.26
-20.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$63.7BHD 23.93
-37.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$84.8BHD 31.88
-5.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$90.0BHD 33.82
-1.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
'ali
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$3,847BHD 1,447
-81.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.56
33.41%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para 'ali: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰'ali pays 434% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $52.0 in 'ali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $263 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs 'ali: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is 'ali cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or 'ali?
On paper, 'ali earns 434% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and 'ali?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs 'ali?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $825 in 'ali – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or 'ali?
At $825 in 'ali versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or 'ali more family-friendly?
For families, 'ali 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or 'ali?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and 'ali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado