Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tabuk

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Tabuk: $1,202 and $1,178 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Tabuk
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,178
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,178 in Tabuk, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Tabuk $1,178

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,766 in Tabuk, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Tabuk $1,766

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,354 in Tabuk, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Tabuk $2,354

Playa del Carmen and Tabuk have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tabuk are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Tabuk 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$200
$7.33 SAR 27.50
45.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$823
$31.31 SAR 118
39.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$221
$7.55 SAR 28.34
56.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.35 SAR 5.05
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.60 SAR 6.01
-
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$71.1
$3.13 SAR 11.76
21.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.36
$0.73 SAR 2.73
78.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.65
$0.26 SAR 0.97
219.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$59.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.46
$1.89 SAR 7.11
-25.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.23
$0.91 SAR 3.40
141.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.66
$2.68 SAR 10.05
-45.15%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.89
$2.95 SAR 11.06
-15.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$137
$12.63 SAR 47.41
-42.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$149
$6.74 SAR 25.29
17.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$242
$12.74 SAR 47.81
0.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.4
$1.95 SAR 7.31
48.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.98
$1.67 SAR 6.28
-17.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.78
$1.81 SAR 6.78
37.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.12
$2.14 SAR 8.04
-5.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$38.03
$1.69 SAR 6.36
19.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.74
$2.09 SAR 7.86
-9.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.49
$1.89 SAR 7.09
-39.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.27
$0.60 SAR 2.24
106.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.86 SAR 10.72
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 SAR 6.86
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.08 SAR 7.80
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$80.2
$6.62 SAR 24.86
-35.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$184
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.78
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.6
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.67
$1.05 SAR 3.94
-51.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$514
$36.23 SAR 136
-24.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.4
$2.70 SAR 10.14
76.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$61.0
$1.69 SAR 6.34
92.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
$14.98 SAR 56.2
-64.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.70
$0.65 SAR 2.44
135.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$398.4K
$27.0K SAR 101.5K
-21.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$436.9K
$20.4K SAR 76.6K
13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,568
$104 SAR 392
-20.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$435
$36.05 SAR 135
-35.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$519
$75.8 SAR 284
-63.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,060
$79.5 SAR 298
-29.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$529
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.9
$13.35 SAR 50.1
-62.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,889
$428 SAR 1,605
-51.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$98.2K
$8,508 SAR 31.9K
-38.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$816
$40.00 SAR 150
8.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$799
$47.44 SAR 178
-10.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,367
$90.1 SAR 338
-19.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,660
$91.1 SAR 342
-3.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.7K
$309 SAR 1,159
222.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,181
$338 SAR 1,270
13.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.4K
$556 SAR 2,087
201.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.3K
$567 SAR 2,128
90.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.4K
$1,966 SAR 7,379
98.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$115.3K
$1,192 SAR 4,474
414.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tabuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.6K
$1,716 SAR 6,442
-51.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.54
106.68%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Tabuk: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Tabuk
$338 11.5% $44
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Tabuk
$222 13.8% $35
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Tabuk
$123 38.7% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Tabuk
$216 61.1% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Tabuk
$121 8.7% $9.7
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Tabuk
$106 59.8% $40
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Tabuk
$52 2.3% $1.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $309 in Tabuk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Tabuk are about 2.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $31 in Tabuk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $222 – making Tabuk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇸🇦 Tabuk
🕒 Local time
01:10 1:10 AM
09:10 9:10 AM
8 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
512,629
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.08 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.21 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Tabuk 11,870 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Tabuk

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 Tabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,767 in Tabuk. 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 Tabuk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $309 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Tabuk?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Playa del Carmen, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $428 in Tabuk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 enough for either Playa del Carmen or Tabuk?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $1,178 in Tabuk, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Tabuk?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,178 in Tabuk to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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