Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Qusar

For one person, living is cheaper in Qusar: $741 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Qusar, Azerbaijan
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Qusar
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
$741
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Qusar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $741 in Qusar, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Qusar $741

A couple spends around $2,081 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,106 in Qusar, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,081
  • Qusar $1,106

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,472 in Qusar, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Qusar $1,472

Playa del Carmen costs about 62% more than Qusar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Qusar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Qusar 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$198
$7.64 ₼12.98
39.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$813
$17.87 ₼30.37
145.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$7.96 ₼13.53
48.12%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.3
$1.80 ₼3.06
110.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.09
$0.68 ₼1.16
91.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.48
$0.25 ₼0.43
232.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.4
$1.50 ₼2.55
110.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.6
$1.75 ₼2.97
181.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.16
$0.87 ₼1.48
62.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.77
$0.30 ₼0.51
633.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.35
$1.37 ₼2.32
7.30%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.37
$1.11 ₼1.88
125.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$135
$3.80 ₼6.47
91.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$3.10 ₼5.26
156.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$6.87 ₼11.68
87.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.8
$0.45 ₼0.76
544.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.69
$1.44 ₼2.44
-4.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.26
$1.16 ₼1.97
114.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.70
$1.84 ₼3.12
10.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.61
$0.25 ₼0.42
708.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.35
$0.60 ₼1.02
216.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.25
$0.17 ₼0.28
570.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.01
$0.34 ₼0.57
264.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.3
$2.86 ₼4.86
49.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$182
$8.57 ₼14.56
14.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.45
$1.53 ₼2.61
3.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.0
$2.92 ₼4.97
-5.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.56
$0.23 ₼0.39
121.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$509
$11.89 ₼20.20
130.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.4
$1.17 ₼1.98
306.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.3
$0.57 ₼0.97
470.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$2.39 ₼4.07
125.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.38
$0.60 ₼1.03
155.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$393.9K
$19.1K ₼32.4K
11.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.0K
$22.7K ₼38.6K
2.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,550
$47.58 ₼80.9
75.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$11.24 ₼19.10
106.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$513
$11.59 ₼19.69
138.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,048
$19.40 ₼32.97
190.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$524
$11.97 ₼20.35
135.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$92.9
$5.47 ₼9.29
-8.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,846
$70.6 ₼120
193.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.1K
$3,573 ₼6,072
46.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$807
$40.63 ₼69.1
6.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$790
$40.83 ₼69.4
4.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,351
$105 ₼179
-30.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,641
$69.6 ₼118
26.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$333 ₼566
198.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,102
$256 ₼435
49.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.1K
$494 ₼840
238.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$399 ₼678
170.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.6K
$1,386 ₼2,356
181.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.0K
$1,220 ₼2,074
403.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Qusar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
$421 ₼715
97.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
7.85
45.86%

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 Qusar: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Qusar
$256 33.1% $127
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Qusar
$131 49.1% $126
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Qusar
$121 39.4% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Qusar
$70 47.6% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Qusar
$115 3.7% $4.1
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Qusar
$30 54.3% $36
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Qusar
$17 66.7% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $333 in Qusar. 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 75% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $18 in Qusar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $131 – making Qusar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇿 Qusar
🕒 Local time
06:17 6:17 AM
15:17 3:17 PM
9 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
18,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AZN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.79 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Azerbaijani Manat exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.7 AZN (1 AZN = 0.588 USD). 1 EUR = 1.9 AZN (1 AZN = 0.526 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Qusar 11,730 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Qusar

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 Qusar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qusar cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 62%, 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 $1,112 in Qusar. 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 Qusar, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $333 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Qusar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $741 in Qusar. That makes Qusar about 38% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 55% less in Qusar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Qusar?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Qusar, where all-in costs run around $741, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,202. In Qusar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Qusar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Qusar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Qusar. 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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