Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ashdod Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ashdod

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,581 in Ashdod.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,814 in Ashdod.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,048 in Ashdod.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 50% less than in Ashdod, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Ashdod is 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$23.36 ₪70.2
-49.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$788
$98.7 ₪297
-52.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$19.87 ₪59.7
-41.37%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$5.02 ₪15.09
-18.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$3.62 ₪10.88
-62.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$3.00 ₪9.00
-72.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$8.58 ₪25.79
-60.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$10.38 ₪31.18
-33.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.20
$2.49 ₪7.48
-30.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.21
$3.48 ₪10.46
-35.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.91
$2.98 ₪8.96
-40.60%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.19
$5.10 ₪15.32
-46.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$17.73 ₪53.3
-48.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$13.74 ₪41.30
-35.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$31.40 ₪94.4
-59.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$3.69 ₪11.08
-18.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.55
$3.28 ₪9.85
-52.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.93
$2.78 ₪8.35
-23.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.28
$2.42 ₪7.28
-6.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.88
$1.93 ₪5.79
3.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.90
$1.52 ₪4.57
35.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$2.04 ₪6.14
-42.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$1.31 ₪3.94
-8.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.4
$13.43 ₪40.35
-65.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$13.46 ₪40.44
-20.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.38
$2.95 ₪8.88
-45.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.70
$3.98 ₪11.95
-27.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$2.61 ₪7.84
-78.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$4.05 ₪12.17
34.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$1.33 ₪4.01
178.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$25.76 ₪77.4
-76.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.26
$2.59 ₪7.78
-40.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.4K
$58.5K ₪175.7K
-61.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.7K
$60.7K ₪182.3K
-57.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,507
$291 ₪874
-69.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$12.83 ₪38.55
95.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$43.45 ₪131
-27.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,146
$63.1 ₪190
7.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.4
$12.26 ₪36.85
-58.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,803
$1,177 ₪3,535
-80.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$29.9K ₪89.8K
-85.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$95.1 ₪286
-50.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$76.4 ₪229
-41.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$132 ₪396
-37.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,557
$169 ₪508
-45.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$1,813 ₪5,449
-41.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,852
$1,058 ₪3,180
-61.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$2,116 ₪6,357
-8.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$1,655 ₪4,974
-21.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$7,714 ₪23.2K
-48.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$5,934 ₪17.8K
11.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ashdod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$4,365 ₪13.1K
-82.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.99
129.46%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ashdod: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $1,813 in Ashdod. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashdod pays 483% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $99.0 in Ashdod for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $452 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
Playa del Carmen vs Ashdod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashdod cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Ashdod?
On paper, salaries run 483% lower in Ashdod. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Ashdod?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,813 in Ashdod. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ashdod?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Ashdod. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Ashdod?
All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,581 in Ashdod – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Ashdod?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,581 in Ashdod, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ashdod. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ashdod more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashdod, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Ashdod?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Ashdod 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Ashdod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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