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 $1,260 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 Carmen 5% lower, Muhradah 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$6.15 SYP 748
90.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$726
$26.98 SYP 3,279
55.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$5.60 SYP 680
87.68%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.1
$1.50 SYP 182
139.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.13
$1.13 SYP 137
33.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.86
$0.68 SYP 82.5
35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$1.57 SYP 191
88.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.4
$2.53 SYP 307
74.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.19
$0.97 SYP 118
44.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.65
$0.60 SYP 72.8
213.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.01
$1.76 SYP 214
-11.36%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.20
$1.89 SYP 229
38.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$3.01 SYP 366
176.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$7.84 SYP 953
6.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$11.14 SYP 1,354
-2.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.00
$0.88 SYP 107
207.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.08
$1.75 SYP 212
-13.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.46
$0.98 SYP 119
90.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.94
$0.88 SYP 107
148.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.18
$0.65 SYP 79.3
186.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.64
$0.62 SYP 75.3
259.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.51
$0.41 SYP 49.50
160.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.82
$0.59 SYP 71.2
84.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.5
$2.91 SYP 354
43.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$181
$8.01 SYP 973
30.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.72
$1.02 SYP 124
62.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.26
$1.85 SYP 224
41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.39
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$0.98 SYP 120
214.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.66
$1.27 SYP 154
88.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.2
$6.61 SYP 803
-52.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.72
$3.66 SYP 445
-64.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$516.4K
$18.9K SYP 2.3M
58.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$404.1K
$20.8K SYP 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)
$81.3 MX$1,408
$103 SYP 12.5K
-21.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$391
$8.52 SYP 1,035
164.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$521
$56.0 SYP 6,803
-46.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$917
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$319
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.2
$3.05 SYP 371
61.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,479
$43.58 SYP 5,295
360.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.7K
$1,809 SYP 219.8K
186.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$29.88 SYP 3,631
20.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$695
$25.76 SYP 3,130
55.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,381
$45.17 SYP 5,489
76.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,498
$55.6 SYP 6,762
55.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,152
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Muhradah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$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.

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