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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $547 in Shiraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $871 in Shiraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,195 in Shiraz, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 135% more than Shiraz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Shiraz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Shiraz 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$5.82 $5.82

105.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$14.28 $14.28

199.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$3.56 $3.56

197.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 $0.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$0.97 $0.97

273.20%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$1.47 $1.47

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$1.21 $1.21

-22.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.64 $0.64

123.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$0.47 $0.47

300.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$1.57 $1.57

3.82%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$1.14 $1.14

131.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$2.97 $2.97

176.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$3.69 $3.69

124.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$9.92 $9.92

11.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$0.92 $0.92

188.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$1.78 $1.78

-15.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$0.92 $0.92

116.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$0.55 $0.55

278.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$0.52 $0.52

244.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$0.45 $0.45

384.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$0.70 $0.70

54.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.24 $0.24

333.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.97 $0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$2.29 $2.29

73.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$0.20 $0.20

160.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$2.32 $2.32

1062.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$0.31 $0.31

912.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$0.18 $0.18

1233.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$1.68 $1.68

83.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$0.69 $0.69

84.06%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$75.0K $75.0K

-58.85%

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$79.8K $79.8K

-70.79%

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$35.82 $35.82

128.95%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$2.03 $2.03

1005.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$19.16 $19.16

54.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$15.92 $15.92

225.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$15.69 $15.69

18.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$1.97 $1.97

152.28%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$156 $156

27.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$2,171 $2,171

142.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$24.04 $24.04

51.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$20.43 $20.43

96.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$71.7 $71.7

11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$41.56 $41.56

113.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$284 $284

239.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$208 $208

123.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$467 $467

242.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$403 $403

199.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$1,067 $1,067

269.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$525 $525

1127.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$247 $247

192.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

22.24

-48.65%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Shiraz: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $284 in Shiraz. 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 192% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $14.00 in Shiraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $109 – making Shiraz 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 Shiraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 135%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $821 in Shiraz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shiraz, 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $547 in Shiraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1063% less in Shiraz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shiraz, where all-in costs run around $547, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Shiraz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shiraz – 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 Shiraz. 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.