😐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 Carmen5% lower, Az-zabadani62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$6.08SYP 672
95.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$27.76SYP 3,068
54.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$5.37SYP 593
98.32%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.54SYP 170
124.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.14SYP 126
31.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.68SYP 74.9
39.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.56SYP 173
94.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.53SYP 279
82.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.98SYP 108
40.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.62SYP 68.8
198.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.67SYP 185
-3.59%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.88SYP 208
37.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$3.15SYP 348
162.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$7.61SYP 840
9.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$11.22SYP 1,240
-4.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$0.86SYP 94.9
205.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.74SYP 192
-14.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.00SYP 110
92.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.93SYP 103
124.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.62SYP 68.4
200.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.65SYP 72.4
247.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.38SYP 41.53
178.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.58SYP 64.2
87.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$3.04SYP 336
36.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.87SYP 648
77.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$0.97SYP 107
77.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.77SYP 195
47.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.98SYP 108
219.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.22SYP 134
105.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$6.50SYP 719
-51.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$3.59SYP 397
-64.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$18.5KSYP 2.0M
63.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$21.3KSYP 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)
$83.0MX$1,425
$100SYP 11.1K
-17.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$8.50SYP 940
167.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$54.4SYP 6,007
-45.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$2.96SYP 328
66.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$43.01SYP 4,752
358.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$1,806SYP 199.6K
192.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$29.35SYP 3,243
25.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$25.51SYP 2,819
56.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$44.18SYP 4,882
81.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$55.5SYP 6,131
61.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Az-zabadani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared