Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Qingdao, Shandong is 36.9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 39.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Qingdao, Shandong is 18.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 43.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 ¥24.46
$11.99 MX$227
-71.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.17 ¥130
$42.47 MX$803
-57.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.52 ¥32.4
$10.47 MX$198
-56.83%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ¥24.52
$3.6 MX$68.2
-5.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$1.44 MX$27.16
-59.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.23
$0.89 MX$16.79
-65.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥6.24
$3.09 MX$58.5
-71.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥14.54
$4.58 MX$86.6
-55.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ¥14
$1.38 MX$26.04
41.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 ¥10.9
$1.85 MX$34.9
-17.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.59
$1.57 MX$29.68
-41.40%
Eggs
$1.89 ¥13.55
$2.55 MX$48.3
-25.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.68 ¥105
$8.61 MX$163
70.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 ¥30.37
$8.54 MX$161
-50.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.18 ¥73
$10.98 MX$208
-7.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.8
$2.72 MX$51.4
-49.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ¥8.26
$1.51 MX$28.57
-23.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 ¥13.71
$1.88 MX$35.63
1.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 ¥7.27
$2.19 MX$41.42
-53.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.36
$1.87 MX$35.3
-59.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.79
$2.19 MX$41.37
-50.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ¥6.72
$1.07 MX$20.23
-12.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.37
$1.09 MX$20.64
-56.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98 ¥28.54
$3.96 MX$74.9
0.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 ¥99.3
$8.86 MX$167
56.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ¥7.44
$1.72 MX$32.53
-39.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ¥11.32
$2.61 MX$49.37
-39.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.52 MX$9.74
-42.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.62 ¥119
$26.59 MX$503
-37.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ¥10.24
$3.24 MX$61.2
-55.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ¥2.27
$2.38 MX$44.94
-86.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.5 ¥53.8
$3.11 MX$58.7
141.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.98
$1.31 MX$24.85
-15.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K ¥143K
$30.3K MX$573K
-34.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.3K ¥95.2K
$24K MX$453.6K
-44.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.4 ¥376
$84.2 MX$1,592
-37.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 ¥78.4
$22.14 MX$419
-50.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.39 ¥74.5
$30.14 MX$570
-65.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.42 ¥190
$52 MX$983
-49.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.84 ¥149
$18.72 MX$354
11.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 ¥49.31
$5.07 MX$95.9
35.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 ¥2,412
$200 MX$3,787
67.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K ¥176.6K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
361.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9 ¥559
$35.74 MX$676
118.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.63 ¥277
$39.8 MX$753
-2.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 ¥572
$79 MX$1,493
1.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥735
$88.4 MX$1,671
15.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$342 ¥2,456
$965 MX$18.3K
-64.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 ¥1,365
$474 MX$8,968
-59.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ¥5,233
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-55.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$415 ¥2,976
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-65.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,925 ¥28.2K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
27.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,394 ¥17.2K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-68.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qingdao, Shandong
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$941 ¥6,750
$792 MX$15K
18.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.42
-66.64%

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

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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