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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $415 in Zanjan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $750 in Zanjan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,085 in Zanjan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 204% more than Zanjan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Zanjan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Zanjan 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$204

$2.93 $2.93

300.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$731

$15.79 $15.79

165.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$183

$3.32 $3.32

216.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.5

$0.96 $0.96

273.96%

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

$1.51 MX$26.31

$0.43 $0.43

251.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.96

$1.06 $1.06

-13.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.35

$0.60 $0.60

133.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.87

$0.53 $0.53

254.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$27.19

$1.92 $1.92

-18.75%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.50

$1.17 $1.17

123.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$145

$3.53 $3.53

135.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$146

$3.19 $3.19

161.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$8.53 $8.53

27.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$47.31

$0.85 $0.85

218.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.25

$1.33 $1.33

13.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.67

$0.83 $0.83

125.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.19

$0.52 $0.52

321.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.40

$0.53 $0.53

250.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.90

$0.53 $0.53

320.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.63

$0.57 $0.57

87.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.94

$0.22 $0.22

395.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 $0.50

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$73.0

$2.06 $2.06

103.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$182

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.45

$0.17 $0.17

217.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

$9.86 $9.86

165.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.7

$0.29 $0.29

962.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.94

$0.29 $0.29

727.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.5

$1.02 $1.02

206.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.87

$0.74 $0.74

77.03%

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

$29.8K MX$519.9K

$59.9K $59.9K

-50.21%

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

$23.3K MX$406.8K

$44.7K $44.7K

-47.82%

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

$81.3 MX$1,418

$15.55 $15.55

422.70%

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

$22.56 MX$393

$2.28 $2.28

889.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$524

$5.81 $5.81

417.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$923

$12.63 $12.63

318.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

$12.69 $12.69

44.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.8

$1.47 $1.47

234.69%

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

$201 MX$3,502

$129 $129

55.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$90.2K

$1,939 $1,939

166.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$627

$31.67 $31.67

13.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$700

$33.79 $33.79

18.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,390

$122 $122

-34.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,508

$70.9 $70.9

22.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$17.1K

$252 $252

288.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,206

$101 $101

366.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.8K

$578 $578

185.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$21.0K

$305 $305

294.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$69.0K

$785 $785

403.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$115.2K

$473 $473

1297.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.8K

$289 $289

134.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

21.5

-46.88%

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 Zanjan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $252 in Zanjan. 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 134% 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 $16.00 in Zanjan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $101 – making Zanjan 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 Zanjan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 204%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $622 in Zanjan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanjan, 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $415 in Zanjan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zanjan, where all-in costs run around $415, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Zanjan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zanjan – 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 Zanjan. 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.