Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,495 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,589 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 7% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$7.93 KWD 2.43

50.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$72.6 KWD 22.26

-34.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$9.17 KWD 2.81

28.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$6.44 KWD 1.97

-36.02%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$0.47 KWD 0.15

197.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$0.51 KWD 0.16

78.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$1.97 KWD 0.60

-14.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$1.26 KWD 0.39

70.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-14.08%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-10.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$7.26 KWD 2.23

26.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$5.43 KWD 1.67

69.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$10.33 KWD 3.17

22.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$2.46 KWD 0.75

19.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$1.85 KWD 0.57

-14.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$1.31 KWD 0.40

69.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$1.54 KWD 0.47

53.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$1.32 KWD 0.41

50.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$0.96 KWD 0.29

106.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$1.60 KWD 0.49

-22.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$0.47 KWD 0.14

157.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.12 KWD 0.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$2.91 KWD 0.89

58.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.81 KWD 0.25

-25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$114 KWD 34.94

-73.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$3.37 KWD 1.03

55.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$3.70 KWD 1.13

-1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$17.45 KWD 5.35

-66.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.33 KWD 0.10

366.67%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$20.0K KWD 6,121

14.21%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$20.5K KWD 6,295

25.72%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$38.32 KWD 11.75

136.61%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$23.88 KWD 7.32

5.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$39.34 KWD 12.06

-19.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$131 KWD 40.27

-47.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

$38.26 KWD 11.73

-23.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$11.13 KWD 3.41

-56.33%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$273 KWD 83.8

-17.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$7,488 KWD 2,296

-43.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$37.51 KWD 11.50

26.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$39.45 KWD 12.10

10.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$98.2 KWD 30.11

-18.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$88.8 KWD 27.21

2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$731 KWD 224

48.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$552 KWD 169

-25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$1,811 KWD 555

8.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$1,319 KWD 404

-2.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$2,911 KWD 893

-73.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.53

75.34%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $731 in Sabah Al Salem. 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 276% higher in Sabah Al Salem, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Playa del Carmen vs $187 in Sabah Al Salem – so Sabah Al Salem wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,100 in Sabah Al Salem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 284% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,400. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sabah Al Salem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.