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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,002 in Jizan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,577 in Jizan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,152 in Jizan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 27% more than Jizan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Jizan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Jizan 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$6.74 SAR 25.27

76.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$26.36 SAR 98.9

62.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$6.81 SAR 25.57

56.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$3.41 SAR 12.79

1.17%

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.68 SAR 2.57

120.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$0.18 SAR 0.67

427.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$1.67 SAR 6.27

-17.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$0.97 SAR 3.64

90.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$1.93 SAR 7.23

-16.58%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$2.69 SAR 10.09

-3.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$7.45 SAR 27.95

10.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$5.60 SAR 21.03

49.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$15.45 SAR 58.0

-31.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$1.83 SAR 6.87

43.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$1.46 SAR 5.48

2.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$1.71 SAR 6.42

12.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$1.21 SAR 4.55

72.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$1.09 SAR 4.08

70.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$1.04 SAR 3.90

117.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$1.12 SAR 4.20

-5.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.52 SAR 1.94

109.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

$7.07 SAR 26.54

-41.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$1.06 SAR 3.96

-49.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

$40.05 SAR 150

-32.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$2.61 SAR 9.79

19.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$1.85 SAR 6.96

35.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

$13.30 SAR 49.91

-76.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$0.63 SAR 2.37

101.59%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

$26.9K SAR 100.9K

12.98%

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

$22.0K SAR 82.7K

6.89%

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

$88.3 SAR 331

-6.01%

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

$22.71 MX$390

$36.55 SAR 137

-37.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$71.6 SAR 269

-58.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

$85.0 SAR 319

-40.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

$35.08 SAR 132

-47.75%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$15.87 SAR 59.5

-68.94%

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

$197 MX$3,386

$134 SAR 501

47.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

$3,319 SAR 12.5K

59.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

$29.02 SAR 109

27.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

$46.03 SAR 173

-13.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$77.9 SAR 292

2.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

$80.8 SAR 303

10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

$328 SAR 1,229

191.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

$231 SAR 865

106.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$513 SAR 1,925

220.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$487 SAR 1,826

151.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

$788 SAR 2,957

397.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$1,619 SAR 6,077

-58.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

4.42

158.37%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Jizan: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $328 in Jizan. 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 143% higher in Jizan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in Jizan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $188 – making Jizan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jizan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 27% more than Jizan, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,503 in Jizan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jizan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,002 in Jizan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jizan, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Jizan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jizan costs $1,002 versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Jizan. 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.