😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $379 in Nuh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $614 in Nuh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $849 in Nuh.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 241% more expensive than in Nuh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Nuh72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$204
$2.37₹223
394.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$725
$10.35₹976
303.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$181
$3.83₹361
171.80%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.54₹145
134.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.28
$0.41₹38.26
256.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.15₹13.82
546.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.8
$1.76₹166
65.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$80.2
$3.09₹292
49.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$0.65₹61.2
120.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.98
$0.45₹42.69
322.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.18
$0.70₹66.3
124.29%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.73
$0.87₹82.5
203.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$146
$5.10₹481
65.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$149
$2.91₹274
194.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$191
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.91
$1.99₹188
35.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.15
$0.67₹63.3
125.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.22
$1.01₹95.1
89.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.69
$0.51₹48.04
325.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.53
$0.36₹33.86
419.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.76
$0.44₹41.83
406.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.76
$0.46₹43.18
134.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.34₹32.44
214.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.2
$4.03₹380
3.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$179
$7.30₹689
40.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.20
$1.75₹165
-4.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.96
$2.89₹272
-12.46%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.16₹487
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.61
$0.30₹28.64
83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$456
$8.83₹833
197.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$0.79₹74.9
305.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.73
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$1.48₹139
116.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.91
$1.22₹115
8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$523.3K
$14.2K₹1.3M
112.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$21.4K₹2.0M
9.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,412
$39.34₹3,711
106.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$389
$3.45₹325
549.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$520
$7.28₹687
311.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$16.04₹1,513
221.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$7.07₹667
160.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$89.6
$2.93₹276
76.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,501
$51.5₹4,861
291.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$92.2K
$1,535₹144.7K
246.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$618
$24.54₹2,315
45.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$701
$25.46₹2,402
58.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,365
$42.52₹4,011
84.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,507
$32.30₹3,047
168.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.5K
$122₹11.5K
678.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,298
$75.1₹7,082
536.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$28.1K
$269₹25.4K
502.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$182₹17.2K
572.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.6K
$871₹82.2K
360.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$112.3K
$586₹55.2K
1005.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.7K
-
-
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Nuh: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $122 in Nuh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $10.00 in Nuh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 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 241% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,941 in Playa del Carmen and $569 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: $950 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 in Nuh?
Supermarket bills run roughly 142% 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 $10.00 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Nuh?
At $379 in Nuh versus $1,294 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 241% 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