Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al Kut Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al Kut

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $391 in Al Kut, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $601 in Al Kut, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $811 in Al Kut, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 224% more than Al Kut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Al Kut are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Al Kut 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$1.75 IQD 2,287

562.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$811

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.5

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

$1.43 MX$24.57

$0.31 IQD 411

361.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.20

$0.14 IQD 177

485.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.85

$1.12 IQD 1,464

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.41

$1.48 IQD 1,937

15.54%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.20

$1.58 IQD 2,067

73.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$2.22 IQD 2,910

331.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$3.57 IQD 4,670

152.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$9.24 IQD 12.1K

38.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.74

$0.84 IQD 1,100

244.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.78

$1.06 IQD 1,382

41.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.98

$0.85 IQD 1,112

152.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.91

$0.49 IQD 640

361.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.10

$0.43 IQD 564

360.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.26

$0.43 IQD 560

362.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.25

$0.39 IQD 509

215.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

$0.29 IQD 378

313.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.3

$1.02 IQD 1,334

346.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

$10.06 IQD 13.2K

-42.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.45

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

$22.5K MX$388.3K

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

$26.1K MX$448.7K

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

$91.4 MX$1,573

$170 IQD 222.7K

-46.26%

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

$25.20 MX$434

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

67.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$538

$24.76 IQD 32.4K

26.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,157

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

300.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.7

$5.09 IQD 6,662

-4.52%

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

$224 MX$3,851

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

$1,400 IQD 1.8M

202.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

131.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

$25.17 IQD 33.0K

75.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

$30.23 IQD 39.6K

206.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,719

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.0K

$255 IQD 333.4K

744.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$170 IQD 223.2K

646.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

$1,015 IQD 1.3M

294.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

$495 IQD 647.9K

1214.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Al Kut: September 14, 2026

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 Al Kut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $391 in Al Kut – roughly 224% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $586 in Al Kut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $391 in Al Kut. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 178% 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 Al Kut, where all-in costs run around $391, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Al Kut 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 $391 in Al Kut to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Al Kut. 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.