Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bandar Abbas Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bandar Abbas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $578 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $895 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,212 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 124% more than Bandar Abbas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bandar Abbas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Bandar Abbas 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$3.95 $3.95

196.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$17.05 $17.05

144.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$4.63 $4.63

129.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.64 $0.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$1.15 $1.15

206.09%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.46 $0.46

228.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.99 $0.99

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$0.62 $0.62

122.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.52 $0.52

263.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.85 $1.85

-11.35%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$1.15 $1.15

118.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.37 $3.37

147.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.29 $3.29

153.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$9.86 $9.86

8.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$0.85 $0.85

205.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.35 $1.35

8.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$0.88 $0.88

115.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$0.53 $0.53

292.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$0.52 $0.52

242.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$0.48 $0.48

356.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.55 $0.55

89.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.23 $0.23

369.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 $0.50

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$2.16 $2.16

88.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.22 $0.22

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$9.89 $9.89

167.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$0.33 $0.33

887.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.29 $0.29

758.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$1.98 $1.98

64.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$0.73 $0.73

79.45%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$73.2K $73.2K

-58.63%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$55.7K $55.7K

-57.93%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$16.00 $16.00

417.94%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$2.05 $2.05

983.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$5.79 $5.79

406.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$15.70 $15.70

228.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$12.40 $12.40

47.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$1.52 $1.52

233.55%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$114 $114

76.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$1,976 $1,976

163.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$22.78 $22.78

62.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$24.82 $24.82

60.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$112 $112

-29.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$70.7 $70.7

23.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$343 $343

183.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$255 $255

83.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$813 $813

101.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$405 $405

201.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$1,061 $1,061

271.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$603 $603

976.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$181 $181

267.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

22.24

-48.65%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bandar Abbas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $343 in Bandar Abbas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 267% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Bandar Abbas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $106 – making Bandar Abbas 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 Bandar Abbas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 124%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $867 in Bandar Abbas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandar Abbas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $578 in Bandar Abbas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 168% less in Bandar Abbas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Abbas, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Bandar Abbas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bandar Abbas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bandar Abbas. 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.