😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $431 in Zaheerabad, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $693 in Zaheerabad, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $955 in Zaheerabad, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 192% more than Zaheerabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Zaheerabad are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Zaheerabad68% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$3.39₹323
245.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$17.63₹1,682
137.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$5.18₹494
102.90%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.95₹186
84.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.44₹42.27
243.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.18₹17.63
411.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.15₹205
37.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.58₹341
23.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.33₹31.82
324.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.30₹28.62
526.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$0.45₹42.65
246.67%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$0.87₹82.7
200.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$6.26₹597
32.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.54₹337
135.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.71₹163
58.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$0.61₹57.7
147.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$0.69₹65.7
171.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.51₹48.92
329.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.50₹47.73
272.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.34₹32.03
555.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.66₹62.6
62.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.37₹34.97
194.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$3.99₹380
5.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$8.65₹825
20.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$2.04₹195
-18.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.95₹282
-11.53%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.28₹599
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.28₹26.31
92.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$8.74₹833
199.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.19₹114
158.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.33₹31.28
627.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$0.71₹68.0
340.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.24₹119
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$17.3K₹1.6M
72.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$23.8K₹2.3M
-1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$39.51₹3,768
105.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$4.42₹422
410.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$8.57₹818
250.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$15.68₹1,495
237.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$7.11₹678
158.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$4.12₹393
19.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$114₹10.8K
76.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$2,611₹249.0K
98.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$30.51₹2,910
17.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$24.54₹2,340
63.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$49.35₹4,707
61.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$37.69₹3,594
129.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$125₹11.9K
682.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$75.0₹7,157
526.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$272₹25.9K
507.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$178₹17.0K
575.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$855₹81.5K
362.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$497₹47.4K
1228.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Zaheerabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.19
24.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Zaheerabad: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $125 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $18.00 in Zaheerabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $108 – 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 192%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $647 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $431 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 199% 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 $431, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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