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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $986 in Yanbu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,533 in Yanbu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,081 in Yanbu, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 31% more than Yanbu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Yanbu are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Yanbu 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$6.73 SAR 25.25

77.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$37.95 SAR 142

12.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$6.59 SAR 24.70

60.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 SAR 7.45

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$3.68 SAR 13.78

-1.63%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$0.76 SAR 2.84

93.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$0.23 SAR 0.86

308.70%

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

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-16.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$0.92 SAR 3.44

104.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$2.24 SAR 8.42

-27.23%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$2.71 SAR 10.16

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$5.87 SAR 22.03

39.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$7.63 SAR 28.62

8.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$11.93 SAR 44.75

-6.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$2.17 SAR 8.13

22.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$1.65 SAR 6.18

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$1.45 SAR 5.42

37.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$1.53 SAR 5.72

35.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$1.26 SAR 4.71

42.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$1.01 SAR 3.78

115.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$1.06 SAR 3.99

1.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.51 SAR 1.92

103.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.32 SAR 4.95

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.11

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$6.26 SAR 23.48

-36.58%

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

$1.05 SAR 3.95

-50.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$32.80 SAR 123

-17.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$3.15 SAR 11.82

-0.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$0.84 SAR 3.14

185.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$15.32 SAR 57.4

-79.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$0.62 SAR 2.32

104.84%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$25.6K SAR 96.1K

20.50%

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$21.5K SAR 80.6K

8.48%

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$108 SAR 403

-23.75%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$22.12 SAR 82.9

1.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$70.5 SAR 264

-57.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$96.9 SAR 364

-46.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$35.37 SAR 133

-47.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$13.13 SAR 49.25

-62.15%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$322 SAR 1,209

-38.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$3,842 SAR 14.4K

37.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$22.59 SAR 84.7

60.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$21.69 SAR 81.4

84.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$66.6 SAR 250

19.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$47.14 SAR 177

88.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$307 SAR 1,153

213.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$242 SAR 907

92.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$607 SAR 2,277

162.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$405 SAR 1,517

198.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$3,459 SAR 13.0K

-79.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

3.3

246.06%

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 Yanbu: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $307 in Yanbu. 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 380% higher in Yanbu, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Yanbu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $188 – making Yanbu 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 Yanbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,478 in Yanbu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yanbu, 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 $986 in Yanbu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Yanbu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yanbu, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Yanbu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yanbu – 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 Yanbu. 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.