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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $879 in Zakho, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,278 in Zakho, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,676 in Zakho, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 44% more than Zakho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Zakho are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

50.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

6.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

45.41%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$3.81 IQD 4,993

4.46%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.07 IQD 1,403

33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.41 IQD 538

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$6.14 IQD 8,037

-48.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$4.57 IQD 5,983

48.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.27 IQD 1,657

32.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.82 IQD 1,069

168.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.76 IQD 2,308

-2.84%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$1.77 IQD 2,317

54.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

16.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$5.52 IQD 7,228

63.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

-14.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$1.10 IQD 1,439

162.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.11 IQD 1,457

35.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$1.23 IQD 1,614

74.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$0.80 IQD 1,042

182.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$0.74 IQD 973

167.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$0.73 IQD 958

172.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$0.80 IQD 1,046

53.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.59 IQD 772

103.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$2.45 IQD 3,211

85.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

-18.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$1.70 IQD 2,231

-4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$2.06 IQD 2,697

39.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$1.96 IQD 2,570

175.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$1.79 IQD 2,341

108.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$6.61 IQD 8,654

-12.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$0.68 IQD 892

126.47%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

27.46%

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

31.51%

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

$127 IQD 166.0K

-27.93%

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

$25.20 MX$435

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

85.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

11.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-57.52%

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

$224 MX$3,856

$317 IQD 414.5K

-29.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

36.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

54.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

124.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

58.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

132.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$115 IQD 151.2K

820.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$223 IQD 291.7K

75.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$315 IQD 412.6K

582.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$276 IQD 361.1K

361.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$657 IQD 860.6K

15.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

2.53

352.57%

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 Zakho: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $115 in Zakho. 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 15% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $44.00 in Zakho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $205 – making Zakho 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 Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 44%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,319 in Zakho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zakho, 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $879 in Zakho. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $317 in Zakho. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zakho, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Zakho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zakho – 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 Zakho. 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.