Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Qatif Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Qatif

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,080 in Qatif, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,638 in Qatif, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,196 in Qatif, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 17% more than Qatif, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Qatif are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Qatif 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$3.56 SAR 13.38

225.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$35.17 SAR 132

33.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$6.67 SAR 25.07

78.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$2.95 SAR 11.07

34.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.60

$0.73 SAR 2.73

95.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.15 SAR 0.58

446.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.76 SAR 6.61

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.94 SAR 3.53

134.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.95 SAR 7.31

-12.31%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$2.11 SAR 7.93

29.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$5.70 SAR 21.42

68.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$7.80 SAR 29.31

15.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$12.98 SAR 48.76

-1.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$2.18 SAR 8.20

32.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-12.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$1.59 SAR 5.96

35.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$0.64 SAR 2.39

253.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$1.12 SAR 4.21

76.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$1.10 SAR 4.12

80.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$0.91 SAR 3.41

35.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.50 SAR 1.89

140.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$6.62 SAR 24.85

-31.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-42.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

$36.12 SAR 136

-20.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$2.36 SAR 8.86

128.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$0.51 SAR 1.92

631.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$13.10 SAR 49.20

-55.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$0.61 SAR 2.30

152.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$35.8K SAR 134.6K

-37.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$20.8K SAR 78.2K

25.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

$103 SAR 388

-11.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

$33.42 SAR 126

-24.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$58.3 SAR 219

-46.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$82.7 SAR 311

-18.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

$37.55 SAR 141

-22.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$13.21 SAR 49.60

-63.21%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

$270 SAR 1,015

-17.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$7,795 SAR 29.3K

-45.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$31.48 SAR 118

49.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$20.90 SAR 78.5

111.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$94.6 SAR 355

-15.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$90.4 SAR 340

2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$574 SAR 2,157

85.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$346 SAR 1,298

12.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$873 SAR 3,281

146.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$547 SAR 2,055

132.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

$951 SAR 3,573

320.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$783 SAR 2,942

729.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$2,249 SAR 8,448

-66.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

5.5

108.18%

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 Qatif: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $574 in Qatif. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 197% higher in Qatif, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Qatif. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $184 – making Qatif the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,620 in Qatif. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qatif, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,080 in Qatif. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Qatif. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Qatif, where all-in costs run around $1,080, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Qatif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qatif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Qatif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.