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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $524 in Muhradah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $805 in Muhradah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,086 in Muhradah, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 145% more than Muhradah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Muhradah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Muhradah 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$5.92 SYP 671
101.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$27.45 SYP 3,115
55.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$5.57 SYP 633
90.13%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$1.51 SYP 171
139.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$1.16 SYP 132
26.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.72 SYP 81.3
30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.64 SYP 186
88.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.55 SYP 290
74.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.95 SYP 108
50.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.62 SYP 70.4
203.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.75 SYP 199
-6.86%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.87 SYP 213
41.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$3.15 SYP 357
160.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$7.60 SYP 862
9.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$11.45 SYP 1,299
-3.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$0.92 SYP 105
188.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.81 SYP 206
-17.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.00 SYP 113
99.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$0.95 SYP 108
118.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.67 SYP 75.5
167.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.67 SYP 75.6
225.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.40 SYP 45.39
170.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.57 SYP 64.8
82.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$3.06 SYP 347
29.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$8.03 SYP 911
27.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$0.97 SYP 110
78.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.75 SYP 199
42.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.99 SYP 112
217.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.27 SYP 144
88.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$6.37 SYP 723
-51.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$3.71 SYP 421
-65.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$18.3K SYP 2.1M
68.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$20.7K SYP 2.3M
12.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$103 SYP 11.6K
-19.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$8.19 SYP 930
174.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$54.3 SYP 6,165
-45.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$3.05 SYP 346
62.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$44.52 SYP 5,052
344.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$1,804 SYP 204.6K
192.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$29.40 SYP 3,336
23.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$25.84 SYP 2,932
54.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$44.77 SYP 5,080
78.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$55.3 SYP 6,269
60.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Muhradah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Muhradah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 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 Muhradah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $524 in Muhradah – roughly 145% 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $787 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $524 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 $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $44.52 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 $524, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $524 in Muhradah to $1,287 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.

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