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: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $526 in Behbahan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $798 in Behbahan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,071 in Behbahan.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 146% more expensive than Behbahan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Behbahan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

$6.12 $6.12

91.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

$13.89 $13.89

200.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

$3.60 $3.60

189.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

$1.02 $1.02

253.92%

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

$1.46 MX$25.06

$0.42 $0.42

247.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

$1.16 $1.16

-16.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$0.65 $0.65

120.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$0.48 $0.48

295.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$1.52 $1.52

3.29%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$1.18 $1.18

123.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$2.26 $2.26

273.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$2.16 $2.16

297.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

$9.50 $9.50

15.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

$0.93 $0.93

190.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$1.77 $1.77

-14.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

$1.00 $1.00

91.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

$0.51 $0.51

325.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

$0.48 $0.48

289.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

$0.45 $0.45

395.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$0.73 $0.73

47.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$0.24 $0.24

345.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.03 $1.03

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$2.36 $2.36

76.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

$0.20 $0.20

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

$10.15 $10.15

159.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$0.29 $0.29

1003.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

$0.27 $0.27

811.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$1.74 $1.74

83.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

$0.74 $0.74

78.38%

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

$30.2K MX$518.8K

$74.9K $74.9K

-59.74%

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

$23.4K MX$402.5K

$78.7K $78.7K

-70.26%

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

$81.4 MX$1,400

$36.48 $36.48

123.00%

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

$22.41 MX$386

$2.02 $2.02

1009.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

$5.80 $5.80

416.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

$15.83 $15.83

225.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

$12.39 $12.39

48.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

$1.96 $1.96

163.27%

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

$202 MX$3,471

$152 $152

32.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

$1,950 $1,950

172.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

$23.78 $23.78

49.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

$20.98 $20.98

92.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

$72.2 $72.2

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

$41.52 $41.52

109.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

$285 $285

232.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

$200 $200

138.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

$622 $622

160.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

$316 $316

287.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

$1,164 $1,164

244.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

$605 $605

969.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

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 15, 2026

Last update for Behbahan: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $285 in Behbahan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $14.00 in Behbahan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 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 146% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,941 in Playa del Carmen and $788 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: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $285 in Behbahan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $526 in Behbahan – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Behbahan runs roughly 159% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $526 in Behbahan versus $1,294 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 146% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.