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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $734 in Saryagash, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,182 in Saryagash, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,629 in Saryagash, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 77% more than Saryagash, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Saryagash are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Saryagash 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$205
$7.63 ₸3,707
53.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$727
$27.22 ₸13.2K
52.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$186
$6.68 ₸3,243
59.28%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.4
$1.91 ₸925
84.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.37
$0.92 ₸449
64.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$17.00
$0.52 ₸250
86.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$1.20 ₸583
145.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.8
$1.89 ₸920
135.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$24.16
$1.08 ₸526
27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$33.03
$0.42 ₸204
350.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.59
$1.43 ₸692
14.69%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.76
$1.60 ₸776
56.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$146
$8.92 ₸4,334
-6.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$146
$4.69 ₸2,278
77.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$187
$7.30 ₸3,545
46.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.47
$1.35 ₸654
92.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.45
$1.88 ₸913
-22.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$33.19
$1.96 ₸953
-3.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.26
$1.95 ₸946
6.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.01
$0.55 ₸266
223.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.16
$0.38 ₸184
476.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.16
$1.02 ₸494
1.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.80
$0.71 ₸345
52.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$71.3
$2.00 ₸973
104.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$180
$7.92 ₸3,845
30.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.90
$0.93 ₸454
83.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.97
$1.53 ₸741
68.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.90
$0.22 ₸105
131.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$57.0
$0.96 ₸466
239.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.50
$0.63 ₸307
295.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.7
$4.82 ₸2,341
-32.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.83
$0.50 ₸241
162.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$528.8K
$20.1K ₸9.8M
50.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$409.2K
$24.4K ₸11.9M
-3.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,447
$49.23 ₸23.9K
68.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$388
$8.62 ₸4,186
157.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$512
$12.53 ₸6,085
134.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$902
$33.14 ₸16.1K
55.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$320
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$88.5
$4.33 ₸2,105
17.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,507
$212 ₸103.2K
-5.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$91.0K
$4,783 ₸2.3M
8.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$645
$56.1 ₸27.2K
-34.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$695
$34.53 ₸16.8K
15.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,370
$90.1 ₸43.8K
-12.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,521
$79.2 ₸38.5K
9.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$17.0K
$318 ₸154.5K
205.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,168
$205 ₸99.7K
127.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.7K
$521 ₸253.1K
215.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.3K
$397 ₸192.7K
207.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.9K
$1,060 ₸514.7K
272.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$113.5K
$813 ₸395.0K
699.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Saryagash
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
18.39
-37.90%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Saryagash: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $318 in Saryagash. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Saryagash. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $173 – making Saryagash 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 Saryagash: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saryagash cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,101 in Saryagash. 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 Saryagash, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Saryagash?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $734 in Saryagash. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $212 in Saryagash. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Saryagash?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Saryagash, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Saryagash it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Saryagash more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Saryagash – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Saryagash?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Saryagash. 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.

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