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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $992 in Jizan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,592 in Jizan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,193 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 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$6.68 SAR 25.10

75.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$27.08 SAR 102

54.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$6.84 SAR 25.69

53.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$3.35 SAR 12.56

7.16%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.65 SAR 2.45

132.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$0.17 SAR 0.64

441.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.73 SAR 6.51

-19.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.93 SAR 3.51

102.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.92 SAR 7.20

-18.75%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$2.65 SAR 9.94

-1.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$7.45 SAR 27.98

11.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$5.75 SAR 21.59

45.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$15.83 SAR 59.5

-31.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$1.83 SAR 6.87

48.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.39 SAR 5.22

8.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$1.68 SAR 6.32

11.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$1.17 SAR 4.40

87.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$1.04 SAR 3.90

78.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$1.05 SAR 3.93

112.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$1.11 SAR 4.16

-3.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.55 SAR 2.05

98.18%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$6.89 SAR 25.86

-39.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-48.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$39.21 SAR 147

-33.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$2.69 SAR 10.12

14.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$1.92 SAR 7.22

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$13.41 SAR 50.3

-76.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.60 SAR 2.24

118.33%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$26.3K SAR 98.9K

13.18%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$22.8K SAR 85.5K

2.44%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$88.1 SAR 331

-7.78%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$36.08 SAR 136

-37.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$73.1 SAR 274

-58.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$86.4 SAR 325

-38.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$36.02 SAR 135

-48.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$15.48 SAR 58.1

-68.22%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$131 SAR 492

53.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$3,379 SAR 12.7K

53.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$29.07 SAR 109

23.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$47.52 SAR 178

-15.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$78.5 SAR 295

1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$83.5 SAR 313

3.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$325 SAR 1,220

201.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$226 SAR 847

108.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$502 SAR 1,886

228.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$472 SAR 1,774

154.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$799 SAR 2,999

395.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$1,645 SAR 6,176

-58.86%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jizan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $325 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Jizan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $190 – 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,487 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $992 in Jizan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% 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 $992, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $992 versus $1,260 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.