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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $731 in Irbid, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,176 in Irbid, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,621 in Irbid, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 77% more than Irbid, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Irbid are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Irbid 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$4.32 JOD 3.06
171.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$43.10 JOD 30.50
-3.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$7.00 JOD 4.95
52.00%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$1.37 JOD 0.97
156.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.47 JOD 0.33
221.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.37 JOD 0.26
162.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$4.84 JOD 3.43
-39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$7.22 JOD 5.11
-38.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.13 JOD 0.80
22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.42 JOD 0.30
350.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.55 JOD 1.09
5.81%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$1.74 JOD 1.23
44.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$6.45 JOD 4.57
29.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$5.52 JOD 3.91
51.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$11.26 JOD 7.97
-4.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$1.44 JOD 1.02
80.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.50 JOD 1.06
-2.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$1.07 JOD 0.76
77.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$0.57 JOD 0.40
264.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$0.86 JOD 0.61
106.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$0.68 JOD 0.48
222.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$0.61 JOD 0.43
70.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.58 JOD 0.41
86.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$3.63 JOD 2.57
12.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$7.08 JOD 5.01
45.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$3.93 JOD 2.78
-56.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$5.28 JOD 3.73
-51.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.68 JOD 0.48
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$0.50 JOD 0.35
552.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$1.39 JOD 0.98
79.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$7.16 JOD 5.07
-54.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.45 JOD 1.03
-9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$24.2K JOD 17.2K
24.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$31.5K JOD 22.3K
-25.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$94.4 JOD 66.8
-12.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$15.36 JOD 10.87
44.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$31.53 JOD 22.31
-6.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$34.90 JOD 24.70
47.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$18.44 JOD 13.05
-0.65%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$10.04 JOD 7.10
-49.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$93.3 JOD 66.1
115.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$3,938 JOD 2,787
32.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$44.46 JOD 31.46
-16.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$21.08 JOD 14.92
88.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$68.4 JOD 48.39
14.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$49.51 JOD 35.04
75.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$206 JOD 146
372.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$146 JOD 103
221.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$366 JOD 259
348.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$285 JOD 202
328.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$505 JOD 358
681.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$491 JOD 348
1222.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Irbid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$568 JOD 402
16.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
7.27
57.08%

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 Irbid: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $206 in Irbid. 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 17% 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 $43.00 in Irbid. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $191 in Irbid – so Irbid wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Irbid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Irbid?
Playa del Carmen costs about 77% more than Irbid, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Irbid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,097 in Irbid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Irbid?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Irbid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Irbid?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $731 in Irbid. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Irbid?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $93.3 in Irbid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Irbid?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Irbid, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Irbid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Irbid?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Irbid costs $731 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Irbid?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Irbid?
If budget matters most, go with Irbid. 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.

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