😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $362 in Nuh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $571 in Nuh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $780 in Nuh.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 250% more expensive than in Nuh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Nuh74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$2.28₹219
408.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$11.83₹1,135
298.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$3.17₹304
274.76%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$1.51₹145
163.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.34₹32.33
320.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.12₹11.79
583.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$1.65₹158
93.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.88₹276
135.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.67₹64.3
150.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.47₹45.03
368.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$0.67₹64.2
155.22%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$0.84₹80.3
226.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$4.55₹436
110.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$2.78₹267
224.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.81₹174
59.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.70₹66.9
114.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$0.97₹93.3
121.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.44₹42.00
413.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.29₹27.82
582.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.37₹35.85
437.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.45₹42.75
173.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.31₹30.18
287.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$4.94₹474
-7.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.22₹693
43.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.64₹158
-1.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.59₹249
11.20%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.86₹467
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.27₹26.10
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$6.21₹596
363.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.86₹82.2
526.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.26₹24.73
1334.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$1.62₹155
256.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$0.98₹94.1
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$11.9K₹1.1M
88.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$19.4K₹1.9M
34.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$36.29₹3,482
151.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$3.57₹342
605.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$7.21₹692
333.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$12.78₹1,226
425.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$6.56₹629
343.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$2.88₹277
68.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$42.04₹4,033
431.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$1,352₹129.7K
212.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$23.34₹2,239
101.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$21.09₹2,023
110.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$33.20₹3,185
141.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$31.44₹3,016
194.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$123₹11.8K
764.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$73.6₹7,059
430.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$266₹25.5K
708.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$149₹14.3K
754.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$899₹86.2K
345.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$475₹45.6K
1267.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
8.86
29.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Nuh: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $123 in Nuh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $12.00 in Nuh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $99.0 per month, with Nuh 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 Nuh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nuh cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Nuh is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 250% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $542 in Nuh 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 Nuh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $123 in Nuh. 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 in Nuh?
Supermarket bills run roughly 178% 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 in Nuh?
Dining out is cheaper in Nuh – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $47.00 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Nuh?
At $362 in Nuh versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nuh but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Nuh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nuh more family-friendly?
For families, Nuh 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 Nuh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 250% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared