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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Qatif vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,638 per month in Qatif vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,196 per month in Qatif vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Qatif is about 15% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Qatif and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Qatif 21% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 SAR 13.38

$11.60 MX$200

-69.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.17 SAR 132

$47.11 MX$812

-25.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 SAR 25.07

$11.88 MX$205

-43.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

Cappuccino

$2.95 SAR 11.07

$3.98 MX$68.6

-25.88%

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

$0.73 SAR 2.73

$1.43 MX$24.60

-48.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 SAR 0.58

$0.82 MX$14.22

-81.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 SAR 6.61

$1.68 MX$28.89

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$2.20 MX$37.88

-57.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.71 MX$29.45

14.04%

Eggs

$2.11 SAR 7.93

$2.74 MX$47.26

-22.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.70 SAR 21.42

$9.58 MX$165

-40.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 SAR 29.31

$9.01 MX$155

-13.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.98 SAR 48.76

$12.81 MX$221

1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.20

$2.89 MX$49.81

-24.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.50 MX$25.81

14.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$2.15 MX$37.03

-26.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$2.26 MX$38.96

-71.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 SAR 4.21

$1.98 MX$34.15

-43.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

$1.99 MX$34.30

-44.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 SAR 3.41

$1.23 MX$21.28

-26.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SAR 1.89

$1.20 MX$20.63

-58.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.62 SAR 24.85

$4.55 MX$78.5

45.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.60 MX$10.35

73.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.12 SAR 136

$28.80 MX$497

25.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 SAR 8.86

$5.39 MX$92.9

-56.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 SAR 1.92

$3.73 MX$64.3

-86.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.10 SAR 49.20

$5.77 MX$99.5

127.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.30

$1.54 MX$26.48

-60.39%

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

$35.8K SAR 134.6K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

58.93%

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

$20.8K SAR 78.2K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-20.09%

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

$103 SAR 388

$91.4 MX$1,576

12.99%

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

$33.42 SAR 126

$25.20 MX$435

32.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 SAR 219

$31.24 MX$539

86.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.7 SAR 311

$67.2 MX$1,159

23.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.55 SAR 141

$29.11 MX$502

28.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.60

$4.86 MX$83.8

171.81%

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

$270 SAR 1,015

$224 MX$3,856

20.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,795 SAR 29.3K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

84.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.48 SAR 118

$47.10 MX$812

-33.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.90 SAR 78.5

$44.29 MX$764

-52.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 SAR 355

$80.1 MX$1,381

18.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 SAR 340

$92.7 MX$1,598

-2.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 SAR 2,157

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-45.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 SAR 1,298

$390 MX$6,728

-11.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 SAR 3,281

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-59.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$547 SAR 2,055

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-56.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$951 SAR 3,573

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-76.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 SAR 2,942

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-87.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,249 SAR 8,448

$758 MX$13.1K

196.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

11.45

-51.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Qatif: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Qatif versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. 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 197% higher in Qatif, 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 $35.00 in Qatif versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $276 – making Qatif 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

Qatif vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 17%, 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 $1,620 per month in Qatif and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qatif, 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 $1,080 in Qatif and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Qatif. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Qatif, where all-in costs run around $1,080, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Qatif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qatif – 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 Qatif. 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.