😐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 Carmen5% lower, Najran20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$8.13SAR 30.52
44.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$22.98SAR 86.3
82.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$8.84SAR 33.19
18.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.63SAR 6.14
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.30SAR 4.90
-
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$4.46SAR 16.74
-19.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.80SAR 3.01
88.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.26SAR 0.97
253.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$2.19SAR 8.23
-36.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.00SAR 3.74
88.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$2.31SAR 8.67
-32.47%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.19SAR 8.23
19.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$6.68SAR 25.10
24.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.03SAR 22.63
38.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$14.40SAR 54.1
-24.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.78SAR 6.68
52.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.03SAR 7.62
-25.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.72SAR 6.46
8.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.61SAR 6.03
36.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.27SAR 4.77
46.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.29SAR 4.83
72.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.36SAR 5.10
-21.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.70SAR 2.62
55.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.76SAR 10.35
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63SAR 6.12
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.01SAR 7.56
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$7.94SAR 29.82
-47.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.08SAR 4.07
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$39.78SAR 149
-34.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$2.72SAR 10.20
13.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.81SAR 6.82
32.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$13.12SAR 49.25
-76.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.57SAR 2.15
129.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$26.2KSAR 98.4K
13.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$22.3KSAR 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)
$81.3MX$1,406
$105SAR 394
-22.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$33.80SAR 127
-33.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$72.5SAR 272
-58.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$86.6SAR 325
-38.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$35.99SAR 135
-48.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$15.42SAR 57.9
-68.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$356SAR 1,339
-43.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$7,072SAR 26.6K
-26.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$60.0SAR 225
-40.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$60.1SAR 226
-33.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$80.1SAR 301
-0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$82.7SAR 311
4.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$334SAR 1,255
192.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$196SAR 738
139.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$608SAR 2,283
171.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$425SAR 1,594
183.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,057SAR 7,723
92.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,378SAR 5,174
379.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$1,745SAR 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared