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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $431 in Urmia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $731 in Urmia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,031 in Urmia, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 201% more than Urmia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Urmia are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Urmia 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$3.68 $3.68

218.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$16.96 $16.96

145.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$4.42 $4.42

140.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 $1.22

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$1.21 $1.21

190.91%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.90 $0.90

67.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.57 $0.57

70.18%

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

$0.59 $0.59

133.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.72 $0.72

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$2.33 $2.33

-29.61%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$1.13 $1.13

122.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.40 $3.40

145.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$2.57 $2.57

224.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$6.43 $6.43

66.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$0.93 $0.93

179.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.43 $1.43

2.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$0.77 $0.77

146.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$0.67 $0.67

210.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$0.48 $0.48

270.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$0.52 $0.52

321.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.55 $0.55

89.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.25 $0.25

332.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.65 $0.65

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 $0.50

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$1.18 $1.18

245.76%

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

$0.17 $0.17

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$9.97 $9.97

165.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$0.38 $0.38

757.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.24 $0.24

937.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$1.97 $1.97

64.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$0.77 $0.77

70.13%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$75.8K $75.8K

-60.05%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$44.3K $44.3K

-47.09%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$15.59 $15.59

431.56%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$2.04 $2.04

989.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$5.89 $5.89

398.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$22.31 $22.31

131.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$5.60 $5.60

227.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$1.54 $1.54

229.22%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$117 $117

72.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$1,938 $1,938

168.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$22.41 $22.41

64.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$24.94 $24.94

59.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$110 $110

-28.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$32.46 $32.46

168.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$172 $172

464.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$129 $129

263.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$319 $319

415.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$271 $271

350.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$690 $690

471.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$588 $588

1005.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$192 $192

245.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-45.62%

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 Urmia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $172 in Urmia. 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 246% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Urmia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $97.0 – making Urmia 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 Urmia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 201%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $647 in Urmia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Urmia, 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 $431 in Urmia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 165% less in Urmia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Urmia, where all-in costs run around $431, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Urmia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Urmia – 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 Urmia. 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.