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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $516 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $803 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,089 in Mahabad, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 144% more than Mahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Mahabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$3.06 $3.06

283.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$17.04 $17.04

145.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$2.10 $2.10

400.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 $0.75

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$2.35 $2.35

52.77%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.98 $0.98

54.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$0.94 $0.94

-2.13%

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

$0.59 $0.59

137.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.43 $0.43

337.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$2.21 $2.21

-29.41%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$1.22 $1.22

113.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$3.14 $3.14

164.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$3.28 $3.28

154.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$7.37 $7.37

47.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$0.72 $0.72

276.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.22 $1.22

23.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.82 $0.82

128.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$0.47 $0.47

365.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.52 $0.52

257.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$0.47 $0.47

374.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.48 $0.48

122.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.31 $0.31

251.61%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$2.18 $2.18

92.20%

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

$0.20 $0.20

170.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$9.90 $9.90

164.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$0.37 $0.37

732.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$0.27 $0.27

788.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$2.02 $2.02

54.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.72 $0.72

81.94%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$73.3K $73.3K

-59.31%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$54.1K $54.1K

-56.89%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$16.03 $16.03

407.05%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$2.02 $2.02

1016.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$5.69 $5.69

428.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$14.28 $14.28

270.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$12.52 $12.52

46.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$1.48 $1.48

232.43%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$115 $115

74.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$1,934 $1,934

167.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$22.23 $22.23

61.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$24.66 $24.66

62.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$110 $110

-27.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$69.6 $69.6

24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$289 $289

238.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$202 $202

133.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$628 $628

163.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$319 $319

276.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$861 $861

359.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$553 $553

1093.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$272 $272

149.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

22.24

-48.65%

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 Mahabad: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $289 in Mahabad. 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 149% 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 $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $97.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 144%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $774 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 160% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahabad, where all-in costs run around $516, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Mahabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Mahabad. 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.