😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $386 in Nuh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $609 in Nuh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $831 in Nuh.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 233% more expensive than Nuh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Nuh71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$2.39₹227
399.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$10.39₹987
311.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$3.68₹350
187.77%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.55₹147
133.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.37₹35.55
297.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.17₹15.99
452.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.78₹169
73.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.02₹287
47.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.67₹63.4
113.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.49₹46.62
283.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.66₹63.1
146.97%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$0.96₹90.7
175.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$5.09₹483
61.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.08₹292
169.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.05₹195
29.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$0.73₹69.1
105.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$0.92₹87.3
116.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.50₹47.23
316.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.39₹36.64
358.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.42₹39.44
419.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.45₹42.50
140.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.31₹29.90
235.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.88₹368
2.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$6.97₹661
46.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.75₹166
-1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.82₹268
-11.35%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.18₹491
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.28₹26.53
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$8.81₹837
206.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.78₹73.6
302.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$1.48₹140
108.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.20₹114
5.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$13.8K₹1.3M
123.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$21.8K₹2.1M
6.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$39.36₹3,737
108.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$3.43₹326
554.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$7.33₹696
304.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$16.16₹1,534
220.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$7.01₹665
166.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$2.96₹281
67.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$51.0₹4,838
288.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$1,549₹147.1K
240.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$24.16₹2,294
50.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$24.86₹2,360
61.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$42.58₹4,042
87.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$31.23₹2,965
184.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$122₹11.6K
691.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$75.3₹7,145
517.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$279₹26.5K
471.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$182₹17.3K
563.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,021₹96.9K
286.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$542₹51.5K
1089.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.67
31.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Nuh: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $122 in Nuh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $10.00 in Nuh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $105 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 233% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $580 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: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $122 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 Nuh?
Supermarket bills run roughly 138% 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 Nuh?
Dining out is cheaper in Nuh – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $43.00 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 Nuh?
At $386 in Nuh versus $1,287 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 233% 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