😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $378 in Nuh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $616 in Nuh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $854 in Nuh.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 234% more expensive than in Nuh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Nuh72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$2.37₹226
394.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$10.27₹980
307.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$3.66₹349
187.16%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.59₹151
125.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.41₹38.90
268.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.16₹14.87
475.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.76₹168
68.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.03₹289
45.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.70₹67.0
100.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.46₹43.58
308.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$0.68₹64.4
129.41%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$0.95₹90.5
174.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$5.04₹481
65.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.02₹288
176.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.01₹192
34.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$0.69₹65.4
118.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$0.99₹94.5
88.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.53₹50.6
313.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.36₹34.28
416.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.45₹42.71
395.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.48₹45.81
122.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.32₹30.38
240.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.04₹386
3.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$7.51₹716
38.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.68₹160
-1.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.91₹277
-10.31%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.12₹489
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.30₹28.92
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$8.60₹820
204.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.80₹76.0
285.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$1.44₹137
117.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.18₹112
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$14.1K₹1.3M
111.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$21.6K₹2.1M
8.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$38.98₹3,718
108.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$3.38₹322
567.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$7.56₹721
297.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$15.80₹1,507
234.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$7.07₹674
160.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$2.82₹269
74.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$51.6₹4,918
289.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$1,512₹144.2K
242.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$23.96₹2,285
49.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$25.71₹2,452
56.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$42.98₹4,099
85.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$32.20₹3,071
168.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$123₹11.8K
692.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$74.8₹7,137
528.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$276₹26.3K
498.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$177₹16.9K
579.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,041₹99.3K
279.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$562₹53.6K
1074.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nuh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Nuh: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $123 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 $252 vs $106 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 234% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $567 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: $978 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 137% 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 $378 in Nuh versus $1,260 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 234% 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