Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Shahrekord

For one person, living is cheaper in Shahrekord: $529 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Shahrekord, Iran
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Shahrekord
🇮🇷 Iran
$529
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $529 in Shahrekord, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Shahrekord $529

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $830 in Shahrekord, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Shahrekord $830

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,130 in Shahrekord, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Shahrekord $1,130

Playa del Carmen costs about 127% more than Shahrekord, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Shahrekord are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Shahrekord 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$2.56 $2.56
326.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$15.92 $15.92
172.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$4.19 $4.19
181.15%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.66 $0.66
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.15 $1.15
-
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$0.67 $0.67
468.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.89
$0.47 $0.47
172.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.58
$1.00 $1.00
-22.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.20
$0.70 $0.70
101.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.30
$0.53 $0.53
318.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.40
$1.98 $1.98
-28.28%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.00
$1.15 $1.15
119.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$4.38 $4.38
65.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$3.63 $3.63
112.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$8.87 $8.87
43.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$0.97 $0.97
186.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.49
$1.62 $1.62
-15.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.52
$0.87 $0.87
193.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.55
$0.61 $0.61
247.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.11
$0.54 $0.54
259.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.13
$0.50 $0.50
278.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.36
$0.54 $0.54
112.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.96
$0.29 $0.29
306.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.84 $0.84
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 $0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55 $1.55
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$2.87 $2.87
49.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.50
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.76
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$0.15 $0.15
266.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$10.12 $10.12
163.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$0.38 $0.38
1207.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$0.28 $0.28
1089.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$2.94 $2.94
82.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.90
$0.10 $0.10
1340.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.0K
$45.5K $45.5K
-54.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.2K
$45.2K $45.2K
-48.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,580
$11.69 $11.69
625.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$1.58 $1.58
1381.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$4.13 $4.13
593.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$18.28 $18.28
212.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$13.10 $13.10
120.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$1.92 $1.92
167.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,848
$92.9 $92.9
122.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$2,147 $2,147
82.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$23.07 $23.07
87.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$28.39 $28.39
45.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,382
$108 $108
-31.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,663
$73.8 $73.8
20.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$295 $295
231.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,095
$214 $214
78.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$892 $892
91.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$349 $349
207.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$903 $903
336.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.7K
$495 $495
1145.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Shahrekord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$200 $200
266.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
24.3
-52.88%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Shahrekord: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Shahrekord
$214 43.9% $167
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Shahrekord
$112 56% $143
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Shahrekord
$47 76.8% $155
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Shahrekord
$17 87.3% $119
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Shahrekord
$105 6.1% $6.8
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Shahrekord
$22 67.1% $45
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Shahrekord
$13 75.2% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $295 in Shahrekord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Playa del Carmen are about 3.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $16 in Shahrekord. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $112 – making Shahrekord the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇷 Shahrekord
🕒 Local time
02:04 2:04 AM
10:34 10:34 AM
8 h 30 min ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
129,153
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Shahrekord 12,620 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Shahrekord

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 Shahrekord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shahrekord cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 127%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $794 in Shahrekord. 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 Shahrekord, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $295 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Shahrekord?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $529 in Shahrekord. That makes Shahrekord about 56% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 62% less in Shahrekord. 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 Shahrekord?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahrekord, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Shahrekord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Shahrekord more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shahrekord – 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 Shahrekord. 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?