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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,090 in Birzeit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,797 in Birzeit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,505 in Birzeit.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 16% more expensive than in Birzeit, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Birzeit 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$9.09 ₪28.02
28.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$48.54 ₪150
-13.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$10.06 ₪30.98
4.47%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$2.49 ₪7.66
44.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$0.78 ₪2.40
93.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$0.58 ₪1.78
58.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$5.52 ₪16.99
-46.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$5.46 ₪16.81
-19.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$2.11 ₪6.50
-33.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$1.16 ₪3.58
62.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$2.61 ₪8.03
-40.23%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$3.93 ₪12.10
-33.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$7.34 ₪22.63
13.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$8.79 ₪27.07
-5.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$17.34 ₪53.4
-37.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$2.30 ₪7.07
17.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$1.80 ₪5.54
-16.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$1.29 ₪3.99
44.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$2.00 ₪6.15
9.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$1.09 ₪3.36
70.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$1.39 ₪4.29
60.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$1.39 ₪4.29
-23.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$0.87 ₪2.69
25.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$7.87 ₪24.25
-46.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$2.79 ₪8.59
-40.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$2.43 ₪7.49
7.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$2.31 ₪7.13
-76.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
$68.6 ₪211
-61.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$2.79 ₪8.59
10.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$13.87 ₪42.72
-77.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$1.88 ₪5.79
-30.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$40.1K ₪123.4K
-25.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$47.5K ₪146.4K
-50.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$64.7 ₪199
25.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$13.94 ₪42.95
61.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$20.16 ₪62.1
49.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$78.8 ₪243
-32.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
$18.60 ₪57.3
-1.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$9.37 ₪28.86
-47.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$124 ₪383
61.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$2,562 ₪7,893
101.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$51.2 ₪158
-29.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$38.24 ₪118
4.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$78.7 ₪242
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$64.0 ₪197
35.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$353 ₪1,087
177.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$276 ₪851
70.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$678 ₪2,088
143.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$596 ₪1,836
101.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.62
103.20%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Birzeit: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $353 in Birzeit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $49.00 in Birzeit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $255 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Birzeit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birzeit cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Birzeit is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $1,635 in Birzeit 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Birzeit?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $353 in Birzeit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Birzeit?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,090 in Birzeit – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Birzeit runs roughly 162% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Birzeit?
At $1,090 in Birzeit versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Birzeit but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Birzeit the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Birzeit more family-friendly?
For families, Birzeit 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Birzeit gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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