😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $520 in Muhradah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $805 in Muhradah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,091 in Muhradah, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 143% more than Muhradah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Muhradah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Muhradah61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$6.15SYP 748
90.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$726
$26.98SYP 3,279
55.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$5.60SYP 680
87.68%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.1
$1.50SYP 182
139.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.13
$1.13SYP 137
33.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.86
$0.68SYP 82.5
35.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.57SYP 191
88.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.4
$2.53SYP 307
74.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.19
$0.97SYP 118
44.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.65
$0.60SYP 72.8
213.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.01
$1.76SYP 214
-11.36%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.20
$1.89SYP 229
38.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$3.01SYP 366
176.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$7.84SYP 953
6.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$11.14SYP 1,354
-2.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.00
$0.88SYP 107
207.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.08
$1.75SYP 212
-13.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.46
$0.98SYP 119
90.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.94
$0.88SYP 107
148.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.18
$0.65SYP 79.3
186.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.64
$0.62SYP 75.3
259.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.51
$0.41SYP 49.50
160.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.82
$0.59SYP 71.2
84.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.5
$2.91SYP 354
43.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$181
$8.01SYP 973
30.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.72
$1.02SYP 124
62.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.26
$1.85SYP 224
41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.39
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.98SYP 120
214.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.66
$1.27SYP 154
88.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.2
$6.61SYP 803
-52.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.72
$3.66SYP 445
-64.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$516.4K
$18.9KSYP 2.3M
58.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$404.1K
$20.8KSYP 2.5M
11.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,408
$103SYP 12.5K
-21.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$391
$8.52SYP 1,035
164.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$521
$56.0SYP 6,803
-46.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$917
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.2
$3.05SYP 371
61.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,479
$43.58SYP 5,295
360.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.7K
$1,809SYP 219.8K
186.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$29.88SYP 3,631
20.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$695
$25.76SYP 3,130
55.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,381
$45.17SYP 5,489
76.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,498
$55.6SYP 6,762
55.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,152
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
13.75
-16.95%
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 Muhradah: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Muhradah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $172 – making Muhradah 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 Muhradah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Muhradah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $520 in Muhradah – roughly 143% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Muhradah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $779 in Muhradah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Muhradah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $520 in Muhradah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Muhradah?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $43.58 in Muhradah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Muhradah, where all-in costs run around $520, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Muhradah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Muhradah?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $520 in Muhradah to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Muhradah?
If budget matters most, go with Muhradah. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared