Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Qarshi

For one person, living is cheaper in Qarshi: $569 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Qarshi, Uzbekistan
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Qarshi
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$569
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Qarshi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Qarshi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $569 in Qarshi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Qarshi $569

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $877 in Qarshi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Qarshi $877

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,186 in Qarshi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Qarshi $1,186

Playa del Carmen costs about 111% more than Qarshi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Qarshi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Qarshi 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$200
$10.12 UZS 121.1K
5.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$819
$16.78 UZS 200.9K
161.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$220
$9.33 UZS 111.7K
26.37%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.8
$0.98 UZS 11.7K
286.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.26
$0.52 UZS 6,190
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.59
$0.19 UZS 2,282
336.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.9
$0.69 UZS 8,317
356.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.3
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.35
$1.21 UZS 14.4K
16.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.07
$0.44 UZS 5,268
400.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.54
$1.19 UZS 14.3K
23.53%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.70
$1.53 UZS 18.3K
63.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$10.09 UZS 120.8K
-27.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$149
$3.26 UZS 39.0K
143.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$241
$10.79 UZS 129.2K
19.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.2
$1.11 UZS 13.3K
161.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.87
$1.68 UZS 20.2K
-17.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.59
$1.86 UZS 22.2K
33.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.97
$1.27 UZS 15.2K
59.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.88
$0.48 UZS 5,790
320.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.60
$0.24 UZS 2,872
691.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.41
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.17
$0.43 UZS 5,160
188.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.9
$3.31 UZS 39.7K
29.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$184
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.66
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.63
$0.26 UZS 3,141
96.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$512
$9.75 UZS 116.8K
180.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.1
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.8
$0.35 UZS 4,132
828.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.58
$1.33 UZS 16.0K
15.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$396.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$435.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,562
$66.0 UZS 790.9K
26.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$434
$3.85 UZS 46.1K
502.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$516
$12.42 UZS 148.8K
122.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,056
$34.04 UZS 407.6K
65.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$527
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.5
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,873
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.8K
$4,537 UZS 54.3M
15.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$813
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$796
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,361
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,653
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.6K
$277 UZS 3.3M
259.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,152
$170 UZS 2.0M
124.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.3K
$426 UZS 5.1M
292.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.2K
$308 UZS 3.7M
250.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Qarshi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.6K
$346 UZS 4.1M
140.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Qarshi: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Qarshi
–
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Qarshi
–
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Qarshi
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Qarshi
–
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Qarshi
–
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Qarshi
–
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Qarshi
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $277 in Qarshi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Playa del Carmen are about 2.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $17 in Qarshi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $143 – making Qarshi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇿 Qarshi
🕒 Local time
16:37 4:37 PM
02:37 2:37 AM
10 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
289,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UZS, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.9 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 11,975 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.35 USD). 1 EUR = 13,383 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.47 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Qarshi 12,820 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Qarshi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Qarshi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qarshi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 111%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $853 in Qarshi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qarshi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $277 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Qarshi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $569 in Qarshi. That makes Qarshi about 53% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Qarshi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen and $17 in Qarshi. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Qarshi?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Qarshi, where all-in costs run around $569, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,202. In Qarshi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Qarshi?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $569 in Qarshi to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Qarshi. If higher salaries 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

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