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: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,085 in Birzeit.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,838 in Birzeit.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,591 in Birzeit.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 19% more expensive than Birzeit, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Birzeit 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$8.94 ₪26.65
33.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$48.94 ₪146
-12.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$9.68 ₪28.84
9.40%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.49 ₪7.43
45.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.79 ₪2.34
86.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.61 ₪1.83
54.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$5.76 ₪17.17
-46.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$5.22 ₪15.54
-14.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$2.17 ₪6.47
-34.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.15 ₪3.43
63.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$2.54 ₪7.58
-35.83%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$3.98 ₪11.86
-33.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$7.11 ₪21.20
15.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$8.63 ₪25.71
-3.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$17.42 ₪51.9
-36.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.22 ₪6.62
19.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.79 ₪5.32
-16.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.24 ₪3.70
60.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$1.99 ₪5.93
4.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$1.08 ₪3.22
65.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.38 ₪4.11
57.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.39 ₪4.13
-22.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.80 ₪2.38
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$8.16 ₪24.33
-51.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$10.07 ₪30.00
1.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$2.69 ₪8.03
-35.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$2.53 ₪7.53
-1.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$2.23 ₪6.65
-76.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$69.0 ₪206
-60.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$2.75 ₪8.20
14.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$13.88 ₪41.37
-77.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.91 ₪5.69
-33.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$39.2K ₪116.9K
-21.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$47.4K ₪141.2K
-50.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$66.8 ₪199
22.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$14.24 ₪42.42
57.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$19.96 ₪59.5
48.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$78.0 ₪232
-33.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$18.40 ₪54.8
1.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$9.05 ₪26.96
-45.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$125 ₪371
58.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$2,591 ₪7,723
103.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$50.1 ₪149
-27.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$37.84 ₪113
5.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$77.5 ₪231
3.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$63.0 ₪188
41.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$355 ₪1,058
171.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$272 ₪809
71.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$690 ₪2,056
131.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$602 ₪1,793
100.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$1,676 ₪4,994
135.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$1,021 ₪3,042
531.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Birzeit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$835 ₪2,488
-13.70%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Birzeit: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $355 in Birzeit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Birzeit pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $49.00 in Birzeit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $273 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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Birzeit?
On paper, Birzeit earns 16% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Birzeit?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $355 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 vs Birzeit?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,085 in Birzeit – a 19% 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 156% 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 Playa del Carmen or Birzeit?
At $1,085 in Birzeit versus $1,287 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 19% 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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