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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $471 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $755 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,038 in Mashhad, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 182% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 MX$221

$2.95 $2.95

341.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.25 MX$784

$18.93 $18.93

144.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 MX$213

$4.87 $4.87

158.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 $0.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$4.00 MX$67.9

$1.09 $1.09

266.97%

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

$1.42 MX$24.08

$0.43 $0.43

230.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MX$13.73

$0.26 $0.26

211.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 MX$116

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.04

$0.55 $0.55

210.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$37.62

$0.24 $0.24

825.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$29.13

$1.86 $1.86

-7.53%

Eggs

$2.71 MX$45.99

$1.03 $1.03

163.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MX$159

$1.83 $1.83

412.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 MX$150

$2.32 $2.32

281.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 MX$217

$9.92 $9.92

28.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MX$53.0

$0.81 $0.81

286.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MX$26.24

$1.35 $1.35

14.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.51

$0.75 $0.75

186.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MX$39.89

$0.59 $0.59

298.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 MX$34.23

$0.49 $0.49

312.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.67

$0.47 $0.47

323.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.09

$0.52 $0.52

138.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MX$20.21

$0.24 $0.24

395.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 $0.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MX$78.8

$2.67 $2.67

74.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$26.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MX$49.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

$4.37 $4.37

581.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 MX$90.2

$0.34 $0.34

1464.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

$0.48 $0.48

675.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

$2.02 $2.02

186.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.27

$0.82 $0.82

89.02%

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

$22.4K MX$379.1K

$59.8K $59.8K

-62.57%

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

$25.6K MX$433.3K

$66.1K $66.1K

-61.31%

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

$89.3 MX$1,513

$12.17 $12.17

633.61%

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

$23.30 MX$395

$2.56 $2.56

810.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.72 MX$538

$27.40 $27.40

15.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

$19.79 $19.79

247.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

$14.85 $14.85

97.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

$2.02 $2.02

150.50%

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

$222 MX$3,765

$41.43 $41.43

436.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

$624 $624

588.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 MX$783

$19.95 $19.95

131.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MX$753

$38.17 $38.17

16.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MX$1,618

$95.4 $95.4

0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MX$1,568

$70.2 $70.2

31.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$210 $210

408.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MX$6,663

$152 $152

158.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

$408 $408

387.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

$280 $280

366.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

$1,147 $1,147

252.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

$678 $678

877.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

$257 $257

191.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

21.6

-46.30%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $210 in Mashhad. 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 191% 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $92.0 – making Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 182% more than Mashhad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $707 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, 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 $1,330 in Playa del Carmen and $471 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 581% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $471, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Mashhad 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. Mashhad costs $471 versus $1,330 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 Mashhad. 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.