😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $677 in Khujand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,022 in Khujand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,367 in Khujand.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 88% more expensive than Khujand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Khujand50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$5.98TJS 55.8
98.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$15.13TJS 141
183.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$7.77TJS 72.4
37.07%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.02TJS 9.48
238.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.48TJS 4.51
212.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.24TJS 2.23
295.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.22TJS 11.40
148.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$1.98TJS 18.42
132.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.01TJS 9.39
36.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.36TJS 3.38
413.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.98TJS 18.46
-18.69%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.55TJS 14.40
67.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$8.74TJS 81.4
-5.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$2.93TJS 27.27
185.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$8.69TJS 81.0
22.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.55TJS 14.42
69.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.78TJS 16.58
-16.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.48TJS 23.14
-22.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.81TJS 7.52
158.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.58TJS 5.41
220.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.31TJS 2.87
629.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.78TJS 7.26
35.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.53TJS 4.90
105.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.55TJS 23.77
62.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$10.25TJS 95.5
1.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.47TJS 13.70
17.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.25TJS 20.97
16.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.31TJS 2.89
74.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.95TJS 8.87
229.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$6.04TJS 56.3
-47.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.97TJS 9.05
30.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$18.2KTJS 169.3K
67.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$12.1KTJS 112.8K
94.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$39.86TJS 371
108.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$5.68TJS 52.9
299.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$23.73TJS 221
24.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$18.62TJS 174
173.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$24.62TJS 229
-25.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$4.09TJS 38.07
20.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$78.8TJS 734
150.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$6,932TJS 64.6K
-23.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$19.16TJS 179
92.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$29.64TJS 276
34.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$39.78TJS 371
101.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$48.15TJS 449
85.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$330TJS 3,070
190.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$250TJS 2,328
90.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$602TJS 5,611
173.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$402TJS 3,745
204.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$718TJS 6,690
445.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$502TJS 4,674
1187.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$458TJS 4,263
45.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
24
-52.42%
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 Khujand: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $330 in Khujand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $15.00 in Khujand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $171 per month, with Khujand 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 Khujand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Khujand?
Playa del Carmen and Khujand differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $677 including rent). Khujand is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Khujand?
Playa del Carmen pays 46% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Khujand?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $330 in Khujand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Khujand?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $78.8 in Khujand. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khujand – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $677 in Khujand versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Khujand but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khujand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Khujand?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Khujand safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Khujand are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Khujand?
Expats usually find Khujand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared