😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $731 in Az Zubayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,154 in Az Zubayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,577 in Az Zubayr.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 76% more expensive than Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Az Zubayr45% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.97IQD 5,195
200.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$25.15IQD 32.9K
69.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.96IQD 9,113
52.16%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.59IQD 3,388
39.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.40IQD 523
267.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.17IQD 226
452.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.98IQD 3,907
3.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.88IQD 3,778
54.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.36IQD 1,785
5.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.78IQD 1,025
141.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.59IQD 2,082
2.52%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.71IQD 2,240
54.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$4.44IQD 5,814
84.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.80IQD 6,287
72.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$13.15IQD 17.2K
-15.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.15IQD 1,511
130.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.21IQD 1,590
23.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.06IQD 1,385
87.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.71IQD 930
192.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.70IQD 912
155.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.67IQD 879
225.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.63IQD 823
71.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.56IQD 733
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$1.88IQD 2,466
111.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.78IQD 2,329
-2.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.19IQD 2,869
14.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.37IQD 482
40.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$31.53IQD 41.3K
-14.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.24IQD 2,931
40.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.53IQD 2,005
56.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$5.83IQD 7,633
-47.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.58IQD 754
118.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$18.8KIQD 24.7M
63.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.1KIQD 26.3M
15.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$78.8IQD 103.2K
4.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$17.71IQD 23.2K
26.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$34.72IQD 45.5K
-14.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$36.40IQD 47.7K
42.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$16.73IQD 21.9K
11.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$7.44IQD 9,751
-33.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$151IQD 197.4K
31.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$3,308IQD 4.3M
59.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$27.58IQD 36.1K
31.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$24.87IQD 32.6K
61.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$61.2IQD 80.2K
30.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$41.29IQD 54.1K
115.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$242IQD 316.5K
298.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$175IQD 229.6K
165.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$571IQD 748.4K
179.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$350IQD 459.1K
244.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Az Zubayr
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.67
101.41%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Az Zubayr: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $25.00 in Az Zubayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $158 per month, with Az Zubayr cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Az Zubayr: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Az Zubayr?
Playa del Carmen and Az Zubayr differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $731 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Az Zubayr?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $1,097 in Az Zubayr to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Az Zubayr?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Az Zubayr?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Az Zubayr?
Expats usually find Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado