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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,068 in Najran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,650 in Najran, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,231 in Najran, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 18% more than Najran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Playa del Carmen and Najran are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Najran 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$8.13 SAR 30.52
44.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$22.98 SAR 86.3
82.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$8.84 SAR 33.19
18.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.63 SAR 6.14
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.30 SAR 4.90
-
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$4.46 SAR 16.74
-19.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.80 SAR 3.01
88.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.26 SAR 0.97
253.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$2.19 SAR 8.23
-36.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$1.00 SAR 3.74
88.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$2.31 SAR 8.67
-32.47%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$2.19 SAR 8.23
19.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$6.68 SAR 25.10
24.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$6.03 SAR 22.63
38.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$14.40 SAR 54.1
-24.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$1.78 SAR 6.68
52.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$2.03 SAR 7.62
-25.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$1.72 SAR 6.46
8.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$1.61 SAR 6.03
36.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$1.27 SAR 4.77
46.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$1.29 SAR 4.83
72.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$1.36 SAR 5.10
-21.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.70 SAR 2.62
55.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.76 SAR 10.35
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63 SAR 6.12
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.01 SAR 7.56
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$7.94 SAR 29.82
-47.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.08 SAR 4.07
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$39.78 SAR 149
-34.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$2.72 SAR 10.20
13.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$1.81 SAR 6.82
32.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$13.12 SAR 49.25
-76.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$0.57 SAR 2.15
129.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$26.2K SAR 98.4K
13.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$22.3K SAR 83.8K
4.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$105 SAR 394
-22.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$33.80 SAR 127
-33.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$72.5 SAR 272
-58.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$86.6 SAR 325
-38.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$35.99 SAR 135
-48.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$15.42 SAR 57.9
-68.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$356 SAR 1,339
-43.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$7,072 SAR 26.6K
-26.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$60.0 SAR 225
-40.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$60.1 SAR 226
-33.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$80.1 SAR 301
-0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$82.7 SAR 311
4.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$334 SAR 1,255
192.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$196 SAR 738
139.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$608 SAR 2,283
171.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$425 SAR 1,594
183.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$2,057 SAR 7,723
92.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$1,378 SAR 5,174
379.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$1,745 SAR 6,554
-61.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.42
158.37%

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 Najran: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $334 in Najran. 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 158% higher in Najran, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.00 in Najran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $199 – making Najran 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 Najran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Najran?
Playa del Carmen costs about 18% more than Najran, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Najran?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,601 in Najran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Najran?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Najran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Najran?
Public transport costs about 52% less in Najran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Najran?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $356 in Najran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Najran?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Najran, where all-in costs run around $1,068, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Najran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Najran?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Najran costs $1,068 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Najran?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Najran?
If budget matters most, go with Najran. 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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