Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Az-zabadani Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Az-zabadani

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $511 in Az-zabadani, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $808 in Az-zabadani, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,106 in Az-zabadani, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 149% more than Az-zabadani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Az-zabadani are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Az-zabadani 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$6.08 SYP 672
95.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$27.76 SYP 3,068
54.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$5.37 SYP 593
98.32%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$1.54 SYP 170
124.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.14 SYP 126
31.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.68 SYP 74.9
39.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$1.56 SYP 173
94.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$2.53 SYP 279
82.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$0.98 SYP 108
40.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$0.62 SYP 68.8
198.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.67 SYP 185
-3.59%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$1.88 SYP 208
37.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$3.15 SYP 348
162.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$7.61 SYP 840
9.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$11.22 SYP 1,240
-4.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$0.86 SYP 94.9
205.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$1.74 SYP 192
-14.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$1.00 SYP 110
92.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$0.93 SYP 103
124.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$0.62 SYP 68.4
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$0.65 SYP 72.4
247.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$0.38 SYP 41.53
178.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.58 SYP 64.2
87.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$3.04 SYP 336
36.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$5.87 SYP 648
77.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$0.97 SYP 107
77.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$1.77 SYP 195
47.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$0.98 SYP 108
219.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$1.22 SYP 134
105.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$6.50 SYP 719
-51.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$3.59 SYP 397
-64.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$18.5K SYP 2.0M
63.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$21.3K SYP 2.4M
10.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$100 SYP 11.1K
-17.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$8.50 SYP 940
167.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$54.4 SYP 6,007
-45.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$2.96 SYP 328
66.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$43.01 SYP 4,752
358.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$1,806 SYP 199.6K
192.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$29.35 SYP 3,243
25.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$25.51 SYP 2,819
56.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$44.18 SYP 4,882
81.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$55.5 SYP 6,131
61.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
13.75
-16.95%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Az-zabadani: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $28.00 in Az-zabadani. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $167 – making Az-zabadani the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Az-zabadani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Az-zabadani?
Playa del Carmen costs about 149% more than Az-zabadani, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Az-zabadani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $766 in Az-zabadani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Az-zabadani?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $28.00 in Az-zabadani. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Az-zabadani?
Groceries cost about 50% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Az-zabadani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zabadani, where all-in costs run around $511, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Az-zabadani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Az-zabadani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Az-zabadani costs $511 versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Az-zabadani?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zabadani. 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.

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