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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $421 in 'anjarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $605 in 'anjarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $789 in 'anjarah, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 199% more than 'anjarah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and 'anjarah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, 'anjarah 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$3.63 JOD 2.57

230.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$2.14 JOD 1.51

63.55%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.44 JOD 0.31

229.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.36 JOD 0.26

144.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.44 JOD 1.02

-0.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.27 JOD 0.19

581.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.16 JOD 0.82

35.34%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.38 JOD 0.98

81.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$5.75 JOD 4.07

44.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$11.14 JOD 7.89

-4.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$1.75 JOD 1.24

49.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$2.84 JOD 2.01

-49.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.40 JOD 0.99

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$0.70 JOD 0.49

198.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$1.09 JOD 0.77

69.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$0.33 JOD 0.24

212.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.58 JOD 0.41

84.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$3.47 JOD 2.46

18.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.33 JOD 0.24

54.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.25 JOD 0.89

5.60%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$60.7 JOD 42.94

35.22%

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

$22.95 MX$400

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$45.59 JOD 32.28

-33.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$28.10 JOD 19.90

84.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

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

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$141 JOD 99.5

573.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$114 JOD 80.9

315.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$209 JOD 148

687.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$180 JOD 128

571.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$327 JOD 232

1139.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$280 JOD 198

2214.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$926 JOD 655

-29.36%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for 'anjarah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $141 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 42% 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: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $421 in 'anjarah – roughly 199% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $631 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $421 in 'anjarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 100% 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 $421, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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 $421 in 'anjarah to $1,256 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.