😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $690 in Khujand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,013 in Khujand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,336 in Khujand.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 83% more expensive than in Khujand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Khujand48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$6.00TJS 55.5
95.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$15.17TJS 140
176.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$7.78TJS 71.9
35.09%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$0.97TJS 9.00
270.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$0.52TJS 4.81
190.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$0.26TJS 2.43
253.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$1.21TJS 11.17
144.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$1.95TJS 18.00
126.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$0.92TJS 8.46
52.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$0.34TJS 3.11
452.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$2.01TJS 18.55
-22.39%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$1.58TJS 14.56
65.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$8.74TJS 80.8
-4.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$2.92TJS 26.97
185.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$9.02TJS 83.4
20.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$1.55TJS 14.33
74.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$1.78TJS 16.46
-15.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$2.52TJS 23.25
-25.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$0.80TJS 7.40
173.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$0.62TJS 5.77
200.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$0.31TJS 2.83
619.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.84TJS 7.75
27.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.50TJS 4.59
118.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$2.53TJS 23.40
65.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$11.19TJS 103
-6.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$1.44TJS 13.34
15.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$2.26TJS 20.92
15.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.29TJS 2.66
86.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$1.02TJS 9.43
201.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$5.94TJS 54.9
-47.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$0.91TJS 8.40
43.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$18.1KTJS 167.6K
64.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$12.1KTJS 112.1K
92.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$39.63TJS 366
105.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$5.78TJS 53.4
290.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$23.86TJS 221
25.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$19.01TJS 176
178.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$24.99TJS 231
-26.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$4.01TJS 37.07
22.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$79.6TJS 736
152.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$6,848TJS 63.3K
-24.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$18.94TJS 175
89.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$30.36TJS 281
32.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$39.68TJS 367
100.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$47.04TJS 435
83.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$320TJS 2,955
205.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$252TJS 2,326
86.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$600TJS 5,550
175.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$403TJS 3,721
198.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$717TJS 6,624
451.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$500TJS 4,626
1220.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Khujand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$460TJS 4,251
47.15%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Khujand: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $320 in Khujand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 47% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $15.00 in Khujand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $173 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 in Khujand?
Playa del Carmen and Khujand differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $690 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?
Average pay runs 47% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 in Khujand?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $320 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $79.6 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 $42.00 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 $690 in Khujand versus $1,260 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 83% 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