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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $503 in Behbahan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $793 in Behbahan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,083 in Behbahan.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 159% more expensive than in Behbahan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Behbahan 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$4.07 $4.07

193.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$12.23 $12.23

287.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$4.07 $4.07

188.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 $0.98

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$1.06 $1.06

288.68%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$0.71 $0.71

97.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$0.97 $0.97

-6.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$0.66 $0.66

154.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$0.42 $0.42

411.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$1.96 $1.96

-9.69%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$1.23 $1.23

129.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$2.21 $2.21

316.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$2.26 $2.26

308.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$9.66 $9.66

30.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$1.07 $1.07

175.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$1.56 $1.56

1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$0.93 $0.93

138.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$0.55 $0.55

329.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$0.58 $0.58

243.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$0.55 $0.55

260.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$0.50 $0.50

148.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$0.16 $0.16

656.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 $0.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$3.03 $3.03

51.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.18 $0.18

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$7.45 $7.45

298.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$0.38 $0.38

1278.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$0.18 $0.18

1927.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$3.45 $3.45

67.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.08 $0.08

1825.00%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$65.2K $65.2K

-65.02%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$54.4K $54.4K

-52.53%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$23.47 $23.47

286.32%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$2.08 $2.08

1111.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$3.79 $3.79

737.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$17.85 $17.85

285.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

$13.41 $13.41

119.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$1.97 $1.97

146.70%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$102 $102

121.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$2,377 $2,377

76.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$22.67 $22.67

109.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$18.09 $18.09

140.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$96.7 $96.7

-17.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$55.2 $55.2

65.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$284 $284

281.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$199 $199

105.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$657 $657

199.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$334 $334

283.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

$1,153 $1,153

250.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

$587 $587

1041.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

23.8

-51.89%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Behbahan: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $284 in Behbahan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $12.00 in Behbahan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $98.0 per month, with Behbahan 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 Behbahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Behbahan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $755 in Behbahan 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $284 in Behbahan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $503 in Behbahan – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Behbahan runs roughly 299% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $503 in Behbahan versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Behbahan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Behbahan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Behbahan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Behbahan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.