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 $763 per month in Sa'dah vs $1,239 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,188 per month in Sa'dah vs $2,168 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,612 per month in Sa'dah vs $3,096 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sa'dah is about 38% 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 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 YER 1,531

$11.17 MX$203

-41.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.52 YER 6,026

$44.61 MX$810

-42.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.46 YER 2,233

$11.91 MX$216

-20.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 YER 475

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 YER 615

Cappuccino

$3.70 YER 873

$3.81 MX$69.3

-2.89%

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

$1.12 YER 264

$1.38 MX$24.97

-18.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 YER 153

$0.80 MX$14.46

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 MX$90.2

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 YER 490

$1.51 MX$27.42

37.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 YER 384

$2.25 MX$40.77

-27.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 YER 486

$1.51 MX$27.35

36.42%

Eggs

$3.68 YER 869

$2.46 MX$44.73

49.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 YER 4,090

$7.50 MX$136

130.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 YER 1,969

$8.07 MX$146

3.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 YER 4,496

$13.08 MX$238

45.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 YER 768

$2.83 MX$51.5

14.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 YER 239

$1.47 MX$26.78

-31.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 YER 505

$2.69 MX$48.90

-20.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 YER 394

$2.08 MX$37.75

-19.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 YER 346

$1.96 MX$35.52

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 YER 323

$2.01 MX$36.51

-31.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 YER 286

$1.21 MX$21.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 YER 161

$1.23 MX$22.34

-44.72%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.37 YER 795

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 YER 444

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 YER 809

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 YER 1,272

$4.46 MX$81.0

20.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 MX$29.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 MX$50.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MX$10.50

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.28 MX$514

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 YER 969

$4.85 MX$88.1

-15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 YER 495

$3.50 MX$63.5

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.29 YER 1,722

$5.65 MX$103

29.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.12 YER 501

$1.46 MX$26.43

45.21%

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

$16.7K YER 3.9M

$21.4K MX$388.4K

-21.95%

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

$34.9K YER 8.2M

$24.0K MX$435.6K

45.57%

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

$106 YER 25.0K

$86.3 MX$1,568

22.73%

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

$23.16 YER 5,467

$23.96 MX$435

-3.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 YER 24.1K

$28.93 MX$525

252.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 MX$1,174

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.07 MX$528

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 YER 1,390

$5.13 MX$93.1

14.81%

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

$118 YER 27.8K

$211 MX$3,838

-44.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,174 YER 513.2K

$4,045 MX$73.4K

-46.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.97 YER 10.1K

$44.23 MX$803

-2.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 YER 28.9K

$43.35 MX$787

182.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.99 YER 11.1K

$76.9 MX$1,396

-38.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.49 YER 9,795

$88.4 MX$1,605

-53.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$996 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MX$6,874

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,767 MX$32.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 MX$20.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,010 MX$72.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,392 MX$116.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 YER 73.7K

$768 MX$14.0K

-59.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

11.45

-1.75%

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

Last update for Sa'dah: September 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 146% 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 $26.00 in Sa'dah versus $45.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Sa'dah vs $263 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 62%, 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 $1,145 per month in Sa'dah and $1,859 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $763 in Sa'dah and $1,239 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Sa'dah and $211 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sa'dah, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,239. In Sa'dah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.