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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,048 in Nablus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,676 in Nablus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,304 in Nablus.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 24% more expensive than Nablus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Nablus 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$5.65 ₪16.08
107.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$34.13 ₪97.2
21.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$8.57 ₪24.40
24.15%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.13 ₪6.07
65.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.60 ₪1.70
151.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.58 ₪1.64
67.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$4.28 ₪12.19
-31.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$3.47 ₪9.88
28.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.78 ₪5.07
-22.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.91 ₪2.59
107.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$2.15 ₪6.11
-23.72%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$2.39 ₪6.82
5.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$7.32 ₪20.85
13.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$8.26 ₪23.51
0.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$18.01 ₪51.3
-40.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$2.40 ₪6.83
8.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.25 ₪3.56
16.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$1.03 ₪2.94
84.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$1.88 ₪5.36
10.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$1.09 ₪3.09
63.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.00 ₪2.85
119.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.27 ₪3.62
-18.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.88 ₪2.51
22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$7.80 ₪22.20
-47.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$2.57 ₪7.32
-33.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$2.54 ₪7.23
1.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$3.33 ₪9.48
-84.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
$36.38 ₪104
-27.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$2.80 ₪7.96
16.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.81 ₪2.32
207.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$13.95 ₪39.72
-76.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.96 ₪5.59
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$35.7K ₪101.6K
-15.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$38.8K ₪110.5K
-39.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$84.2 ₪240
-1.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$14.52 ₪41.33
53.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$46.04 ₪131
-36.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$70.9 ₪202
-27.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$42.61 ₪121
-57.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$9.21 ₪26.21
-44.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$199 ₪565
1.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$3,359 ₪9,564
55.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$63.5 ₪181
-41.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$38.85 ₪111
2.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$95.7 ₪272
-18.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$73.0 ₪208
19.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$344 ₪979
182.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$278 ₪791
68.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$650 ₪1,851
152.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$567 ₪1,615
115.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$788 ₪2,244
400.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$645 ₪1,835
908.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nablus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.62
103.20%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Nablus: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $344 in Nablus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 in Nablus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $234 per month, with Nablus cheaper across the board.

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 Nablus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nablus cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Nablus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,571 in Nablus to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Nablus?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $344 in Nablus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Nablus?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Nablus?
Dining out is cheaper in Nablus – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Nablus?
At $1,048 in Nablus versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nablus but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Nablus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nablus more family-friendly?
For families, Nablus is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nablus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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