Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and 'anjarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and 'anjarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $429 in 'anjarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $602 in 'anjarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $775 in 'anjarah, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 202% more than 'anjarah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and 'anjarah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, 'anjarah 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$3.58 JOD 2.54

227.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$2.18 JOD 1.54

61.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.44 JOD 0.31

243.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.34 JOD 0.24

185.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.44 JOD 1.02

-4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.27 JOD 0.19

600.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.15 JOD 0.81

42.61%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$1.44 JOD 1.02

74.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$5.77 JOD 4.09

44.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$11.38 JOD 8.06

-5.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$1.80 JOD 1.27

44.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.84 JOD 2.01

-48.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.45 JOD 1.02

31.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$0.70 JOD 0.49

197.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.08 JOD 0.76

64.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.36 JOD 0.26

188.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.57 JOD 0.41

89.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$3.45 JOD 2.44

18.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.34 JOD 0.24

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.24 JOD 0.88

5.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,433

$59.4 JOD 42.03

39.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$45.17 JOD 31.97

-35.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$27.87 JOD 19.73

85.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$140 JOD 98.7

597.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$112 JOD 79.4

316.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$211 JOD 150

676.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$186 JOD 132

555.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$333 JOD 236

1085.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$281 JOD 199

2211.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$916 JOD 648

-27.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for 'anjarah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $140 in 'anjarah. 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 38% higher in 'anjarah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Playa del Carmen vs 'anjarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $429 in 'anjarah – roughly 202% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $643 in 'anjarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'anjarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $429 in 'anjarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 98% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in 'anjarah, where all-in costs run around $429, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In 'anjarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $429 in 'anjarah to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with 'anjarah. 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.