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

😐 Solo nomad: Riyadh is 9.2% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 40.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Riyadh is 35.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 6.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.14 SAR 30.53
$11.61 MX$201
-29.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 SAR 202
$42.75 MX$739
25.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.79 SAR 29.21
$10.60 MX$183
-26.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 SAR 6.54
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 SAR 8.31
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.09 SAR 15.33
$3.59 MX$62.0
13.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SAR 2.72
$1.45 MX$25.10
-50.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 SAR 1.08
$0.90 MX$15.52
-67.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03 MX$52.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.56 MX$78.8
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 SAR 6.39
$1.45 MX$25.10
17.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 SAR 4.97
$1.83 MX$31.59
-27.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 SAR 8.80
$1.61 MX$27.80
45.96%
Eggs
$2.64 SAR 9.91
$2.54 MX$43.87
3.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.29 SAR 31.09
$8.54 MX$148
-2.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.17 SAR 38.13
$8.47 MX$146
20.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 SAR 55.1
$10.86 MX$188
35.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 SAR 8.43
$2.73 MX$47.18
-17.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 SAR 6.27
$1.49 MX$25.80
12.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 SAR 6.77
$1.94 MX$33.59
-6.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 SAR 5.91
$2.16 MX$37.42
-26.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 SAR 4.61
$1.85 MX$31.92
-33.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 SAR 5.66
$2.19 MX$37.84
-31.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 SAR 5.37
$1.07 MX$18.54
33.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 SAR 2.07
$1.08 MX$18.73
-49.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$7.88 SAR 29.54
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SAR 6.69
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 SAR 8.73
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.55 SAR 28.31
$4.06 MX$70.2
85.96%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.46 MX$181
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.65 MX$28.59
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.55 MX$44.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 SAR 4.11
$0.56 MX$9.61
96.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.55 SAR 137
$26.20 MX$453
39.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 SAR 11.71
$3.14 MX$54.3
-0.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 SAR 7.14
$2.37 MX$41.00
-19.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.42 SAR 50.3
$3.24 MX$56.0
314.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.24
$1.31 MX$22.72
-54.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K SAR 131.3K
$30.5K MX$528.0K
14.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K SAR 88.2K
$23.8K MX$411.9K
-1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SAR 398
$83.1 MX$1,438
27.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.52 SAR 133
$22.15 MX$383
60.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2 SAR 286
$29.37 MX$508
159.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$105 SAR 392
$51.2 MX$885
104.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.4 SAR 223
$18.69 MX$323
218.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71 SAR 58.9
$4.89 MX$84.5
221.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$453 SAR 1,698
$199 MX$3,435
127.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,659 SAR 36.2K
$5,207 MX$90.0K
85.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 SAR 220
$35.93 MX$621
62.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.7 SAR 246
$39.39 MX$681
66.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 SAR 409
$80.3 MX$1,388
35.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.7 SAR 366
$87.6 MX$1,514
11.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,082 SAR 4,057
$963 MX$16.7K
12.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$859 SAR 3,222
$482 MX$8,336
78.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 SAR 7,571
$1,645 MX$28.4K
22.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,121 SAR 4,203
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-5.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,951 SAR 11.1K
$3,957 MX$68.4K
-25.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,882 SAR 7,057
$6,513 MX$112.6K
-71.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riyadh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,289 SAR 8,584
$726 MX$12.6K
215.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.31
11.42
-53.50%

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

Last update for Riyadh: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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