😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $346 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $519 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $692 in Shahjahanpur, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 266% more than Shahjahanpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Shahjahanpur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Shahjahanpur75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$3.21₹308
261.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$8.11₹777
480.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$3.10₹298
283.23%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$1.56₹149
155.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$0.30₹28.61
376.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$0.07₹6.64
1071.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$2.03₹195
57.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.40₹230
182.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$0.66₹63.2
154.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$0.42₹40.25
423.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$0.61₹58.4
180.33%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$0.74₹70.6
270.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$2.53₹243
278.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$2.62₹251
243.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$1.38₹132
109.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$0.54₹52.1
177.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$0.69₹66.4
211.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$0.36₹34.07
527.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$0.30₹29.16
560.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$0.36₹34.13
452.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$0.41₹39.17
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$0.25₹23.75
380.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$2.13₹205
113.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$5.31₹509
95.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$0.87₹83.1
86.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$2.06₹197
39.81%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.08₹296
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$0.25₹23.73
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$7.21₹692
299.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$0.72₹69.0
648.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$0.20₹19.17
1765.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$1.53₹147
277.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$0.98₹93.9
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$15.7K₹1.5M
43.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$20.8K₹2.0M
25.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$38.01₹3,646
140.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$3.15₹302
700.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$8.11₹778
285.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
$13.96₹1,339
381.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
$6.44₹618
352.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$2.36₹227
105.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$72.0₹6,902
210.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$1,680₹161.1K
151.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$21.18₹2,031
122.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$20.56₹1,972
115.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$47.48₹4,555
68.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$25.69₹2,465
260.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$72.5₹6,957
1364.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$61.6₹5,905
533.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$138₹13.3K
1454.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$115₹11.0K
1007.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
$962₹92.3K
316.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
$502₹48.1K
1196.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Shahjahanpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
$723₹69.3K
4.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
8
43.12%
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 Shahjahanpur: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $72.5 in Shahjahanpur. 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 5% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $8.00 in Shahjahanpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $77.0 – making Shahjahanpur 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 Shahjahanpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shahjahanpur cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 266%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $519 in Shahjahanpur. 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 Shahjahanpur, 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 and in Shahjahanpur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $346 in Shahjahanpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 299% less in Shahjahanpur. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Shahjahanpur?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahjahanpur, where all-in costs run around $346, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Shahjahanpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Shahjahanpur more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shahjahanpur – 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 Shahjahanpur. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared