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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $232 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $411 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $589 in Shahrisabz, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 446% more than Shahrisabz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Shahrisabz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Shahrisabz 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$2.93 UZS 34.7K

295.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$811

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$2.06 UZS 24.4K

476.70%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.5

$0.58 UZS 6,836

586.21%

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

$1.43 MX$24.57

$0.49 UZS 5,770

191.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.20

$0.21 UZS 2,531

290.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

$0.98 UZS 11.6K

225.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$1.99 UZS 23.5K

241.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.85

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.83

$0.26 UZS 3,095

746.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.41

$2.02 UZS 23.9K

-15.35%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.20

$0.94 UZS 11.1K

191.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$2.03 UZS 24.1K

343.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$7.15 UZS 84.6K

79.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.74

$0.68 UZS 8,090

325.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.78

$0.98 UZS 11.6K

53.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.98

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.91

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

$0.58 UZS 6,819

106.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.3

$1.02 UZS 12.1K

346.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

$1.03 UZS 12.1K

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.60

$1.98 UZS 23.5K

45.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

$0.41 UZS 4,900

46.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.8

$0.42 UZS 4,918

1183.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

$0.19 UZS 2,210

1863.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.45

$0.87 UZS 10.3K

77.01%

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

$22.5K MX$388.3K

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

$26.1K MX$448.7K

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

$91.4 MX$1,573

$47.03 UZS 556.6K

94.30%

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

$25.20 MX$434

$2.94 UZS 34.8K

757.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$538

$9.13 UZS 108.0K

242.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,157

$30.30 UZS 358.6K

121.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.7

$6.87 UZS 81.3K

-29.26%

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

$224 MX$3,851

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

$11.87 UZS 140.5K

296.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

$10.90 UZS 129.0K

306.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,719

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.0K

$198 UZS 2.3M

985.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$149 UZS 1.8M

756.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$413 UZS 4.9M

83.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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 Shahrisabz: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 84% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Shahrisabz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 446%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $348 in Shahrisabz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $232 in Shahrisabz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 287% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahrisabz, where all-in costs run around $232, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Shahrisabz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shahrisabz – 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 Shahrisabz. 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.