😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $399 in Zaheerabad, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $628 in Zaheerabad, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $858 in Zaheerabad, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 217% more than Zaheerabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Zaheerabad are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Zaheerabad71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$2.65₹254
337.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$10.57₹1,014
345.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$5.33₹511
122.89%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$2.28₹219
74.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.45₹43.59
217.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.14₹13.19
485.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$2.14₹205
49.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$5.09₹488
33.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.30₹28.31
460.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.27₹26.05
714.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$0.44₹42.11
288.64%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$0.74₹71.0
270.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$6.95₹667
37.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.18₹305
183.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.55₹149
86.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.53₹51.0
183.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$0.64₹61.8
235.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.44₹42.21
413.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.41₹39.73
382.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.30₹28.71
563.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.45₹43.12
173.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.30₹28.54
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$5.15₹494
-11.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$8.81₹845
17.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.84₹176
-11.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.69₹258
7.06%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.22₹597
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.27₹25.69
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$7.16₹687
302.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.86₹82.3
526.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.50₹47.93
646.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$0.64₹61.7
801.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.16₹111
32.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$15.4K₹1.5M
46.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$23.0K₹2.2M
13.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$39.61₹3,800
130.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$4.24₹407
494.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$7.69₹738
306.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$14.69₹1,410
357.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$7.37₹707
294.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$3.09₹297
57.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$104₹9,972
115.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$2,925₹280.6K
44.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$21.79₹2,090
116.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$20.71₹1,987
113.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$42.89₹4,115
86.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$34.80₹3,338
166.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$106₹10.2K
902.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$82.9₹7,950
370.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$297₹28.5K
624.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$160₹15.4K
693.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$852₹81.7K
369.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$571₹54.8K
1038.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
8.46
35.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Zaheerabad: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $106 in Zaheerabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Zaheerabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $102 – making Zaheerabad 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 Zaheerabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zaheerabad cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 217%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $599 in Zaheerabad. 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 Zaheerabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Zaheerabad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $399 in Zaheerabad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 302% less in Zaheerabad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Zaheerabad?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zaheerabad, where all-in costs run around $399, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Zaheerabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Zaheerabad more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zaheerabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zaheerabad. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared