Cost of Living Comparison Between Sa'dah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sa'dah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $766 per month in Sa'dah vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,189 per month in Sa'dah vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,611 per month in Sa'dah vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sa'dah is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sa'dah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sa'dah 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 YER 1,459
$13.02 MX$221
-52.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.34 YER 6,001
$46.25 MX$784
-45.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.36 YER 2,217
$12.59 MX$213
-25.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 YER 467
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 YER 580
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.75 YER 888
$4.00 MX$67.9
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 YER 274
$1.42 MX$24.08
-18.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 YER 149
$0.81 MX$13.73
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.05 MX$51.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.82 MX$116
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 YER 491
$1.71 MX$29.04
21.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 YER 404
$2.22 MX$37.62
-22.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 YER 472
$1.72 MX$29.13
15.70%
Eggs
$3.57 YER 845
$2.71 MX$45.99
31.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.43 YER 4,128
$9.37 MX$159
86.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 YER 1,955
$8.86 MX$150
-6.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.81 YER 4,456
$12.78 MX$217
47.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 YER 794
$3.13 MX$53.0
7.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.00 YER 237
$1.55 MX$26.24
-35.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 YER 519
$2.15 MX$36.51
1.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 YER 384
$2.35 MX$39.89
-31.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 YER 350
$2.02 MX$34.23
-26.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 YER 324
$1.99 MX$33.67
-31.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 YER 287
$1.24 MX$21.09
-2.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 YER 164
$1.19 MX$20.21
-42.02%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.26 YER 773
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 YER 440
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 YER 807
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52 YER 1,307
$4.65 MX$78.8
18.71%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.47 MX$177
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 MX$26.82
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.92 MX$49.48
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.56 MX$9.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.76 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.22 YER 1,000
$5.32 MX$90.2
-20.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 YER 510
$3.72 MX$63.0
-42.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.03 YER 1,666
$5.78 MX$97.9
21.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 YER 497
$1.55 MX$26.27
35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K YER 4.0M
$22.4K MX$379.1K
-25.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K YER 8.3M
$25.6K MX$433.3K
37.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 YER 25.6K
$89.3 MX$1,513
21.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 YER 5,491
$23.30 MX$395
-0.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 YER 24.4K
$31.72 MX$538
224.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.8 MX$1,165
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.40 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.05 YER 1,432
$5.06 MX$85.7
19.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 YER 27.2K
$222 MX$3,765
-48.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,150 YER 509.1K
$4,293 MX$72.7K
-49.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.74 YER 10.1K
$46.21 MX$783
-7.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$121 YER 28.7K
$44.43 MX$753
172.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.10 YER 11.4K
$95.5 MX$1,618
-49.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.30 YER 9,545
$92.5 MX$1,568
-56.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$393 MX$6,663
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,988 MX$33.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,304 MX$22.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,037 MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sa'dah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 YER 74.4K
$747 MX$12.7K
-57.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
11.6
-3.02%

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

Last update for Sa'dah: August 18, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 138% 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 $25.00 in Sa'dah versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $277 – making Sa'dah 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
Sa'dah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sa'dah?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,150 per month in Sa'dah and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Sa'dah and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $766 in Sa'dah and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Sa'dah and $222 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sa'dah or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sa'dah, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Sa'dah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sa'dah or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sa'dah – 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 Sa'dah. 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.

Sa'dah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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