Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rasht and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Rasht: $472 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Rasht, Iran
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Rasht
🇮🇷 Iran
$472
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rasht and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rasht and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $472 per month in Rasht vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Rasht $472
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $729 per month in Rasht vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Rasht $729
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $986 per month in Rasht vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Rasht $986
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Rasht is about 61% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Rasht and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Rasht 65% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 $3.41
$10.92 MX$204
-68.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.13 $16.13
$43.37 MX$808
-62.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.07 $4.07
$11.78 MX$220
-65.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.71 $0.71
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.38 $1.38
$3.81 MX$71.0
-63.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.28 MX$23.90
-60.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.78 MX$14.59
25.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.17 MX$59.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.93 MX$92.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.54 $0.54
$1.41 MX$26.22
-61.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 $0.49
$2.22 MX$41.33
-77.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.42 MX$26.42
30.28%
Eggs
$1.29 $1.29
$2.52 MX$47.03
-48.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$7.26 MX$135
-39.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$7.70 MX$143
-66.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.96 $8.96
$12.69 MX$237
-29.39%
Apples (1kg)
$0.76 $0.76
$2.78 MX$51.9
-72.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.37 MX$25.50
-2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.74 $0.74
$2.55 MX$47.55
-70.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$2.12 MX$39.58
-77.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.94 MX$36.13
-75.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 $0.50
$1.89 MX$35.16
-73.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 $0.34
$1.15 MX$21.37
-70.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26 $0.26
$1.18 MX$21.98
-77.97%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.78 $0.78
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 $1.31
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67 $1.67
$4.30 MX$80.1
-61.16%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$9.95 MX$185
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 MX$29.52
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.67 MX$49.79
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 $0.17
$0.55 MX$10.31
-69.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.20 $11.20
$26.62 MX$496
-57.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 $0.52
$4.97 MX$92.6
-89.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 $0.22
$3.33 MX$62.1
-93.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 $1.54
$5.36 MX$99.8
-71.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.09 $0.09
$1.44 MX$26.92
-93.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.8K $49.8K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
140.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.2K $45.2K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
92.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.79 $12.79
$84.8 MX$1,581
-84.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.54 $1.54
$23.41 MX$436
-93.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.00 $4.00
$28.66 MX$534
-86.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.38 $18.38
$57.1 MX$1,063
-67.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.92 $11.92
$28.91 MX$539
-58.77%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02 $1.02
$5.14 MX$95.8
-80.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$82.4 $82.4
$207 MX$3,851
-60.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,603 $2,603
$3,927 MX$73.2K
-33.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.10 $16.10
$43.35 MX$808
-62.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.27 $25.27
$41.44 MX$772
-39.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 $109
$74.2 MX$1,383
46.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 $73.3
$89.3 MX$1,664
-17.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 $209
$980 MX$18.3K
-78.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 $158
$381 MX$7,099
-58.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 $381
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-77.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 $213
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-80.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,238 $1,238
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-68.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$629 $629
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-89.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rasht
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 $215
$735 MX$13.7K
-70.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19
11.45
65.94%

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

Last update for Rasht: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rasht
$158
Playa del Carmen
$381 142% $223
Clothing & Footwear
Rasht
$100
Playa del Carmen
$112 11.2% $11
Groceries & Markets
Rasht
$100
Playa del Carmen
$255 155% $155
Eating Out
Rasht
$62
Playa del Carmen
$202 226% $140
Sport & Entertainment
Rasht
$20
Playa del Carmen
$67 230% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rasht
$18
Playa del Carmen
$137 647% $119
Getting Around
Rasht
$13
Playa del Carmen
$50 274% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $209 in Rasht versus $980 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 in Playa del Carmen are about 3.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Rasht versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $255 – making Rasht the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Rasht
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
03:39 3:39 AM
19:09 7:09 PM
8 h 30 min behind Rasht
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
679,995
149,923
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rasht Playa del Carmen 12,140 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rasht
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Rasht vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rasht cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 155%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $708 per month in Rasht and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Rasht, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $209 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Rasht and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $472 in Rasht and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Rasht about 61% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 58% less in Rasht. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Rasht or in Playa del Carmen?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Rasht, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Rasht it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rasht or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rasht – 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 Rasht. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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