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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $922 in Taif, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,467 in Taif, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,011 in Taif, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 41% more than Taif, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Taif are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Taif 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$5.25 SAR 19.69

123.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$40.17 SAR 151

3.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.71 SAR 25.18

58.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 SAR 7.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$2.92 SAR 10.96

20.55%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.72 SAR 2.70

109.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.26 SAR 0.97

273.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.37 SAR 5.14

0.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.26 SAR 0.96

626.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$2.36 SAR 8.88

-30.51%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$2.56 SAR 9.61

-1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.38 SAR 27.70

13.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$5.99 SAR 22.49

39.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$10.73 SAR 40.25

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$2.28 SAR 8.55

14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-8.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$2.02 SAR 7.59

-5.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.92 SAR 7.19

8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.46 SAR 5.48

21.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$1.56 SAR 5.87

40.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.85 SAR 3.19

22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.97 SAR 3.65

11.34%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.20

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$6.55 SAR 24.56

-37.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$1.08 SAR 4.07

-52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$40.19 SAR 151

-34.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$2.72 SAR 10.21

19.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$2.04 SAR 7.67

22.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$13.18 SAR 49.45

-75.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$0.60 SAR 2.26

118.33%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$19.7K SAR 74.0K

53.54%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$20.0K SAR 75.0K

17.23%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$73.2 SAR 275

13.19%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$28.41 SAR 107

-21.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$88.5 SAR 332

-66.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$76.0 SAR 285

-32.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$37.04 SAR 139

-50.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$17.58 SAR 66.0

-71.16%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$264 SAR 991

-23.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$5,548 SAR 20.8K

-6.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$38.85 SAR 146

-4.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$42.12 SAR 158

-5.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$79.9 SAR 300

-1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$46.88 SAR 176

85.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$214 SAR 804

353.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$173 SAR 649

170.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$433 SAR 1,626

278.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$349 SAR 1,309

250.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$2,130 SAR 7,993

85.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$1,248 SAR 4,685

420.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$2,031 SAR 7,622

-67.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

4.6

148.26%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Taif: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $214 in Taif. 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 206% higher in Taif, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $40.00 in Taif. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $181 – making Taif 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 Taif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,383 in Taif. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taif, 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $922 in Taif. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Taif. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taif, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Taif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taif – 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 Taif. 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.