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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,159 per month in Sakakah vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,646 per month in Sakakah vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,134 per month in Sakakah vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sakakah is about 8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sakakah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sakakah 13% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.82 SAR 21.87

$11.72 MX$203

-50.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.09 SAR 169

$41.89 MX$725

7.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 SAR 29.64

$10.51 MX$182

-24.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 SAR 8.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

Cappuccino

$3.67 SAR 13.78

$3.59 MX$62.0

2.23%

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

$0.65 SAR 2.44

$1.51 MX$26.10

-56.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.18

$0.92 MX$15.83

-65.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 SAR 6.23

$1.40 MX$24.16

18.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 SAR 3.48

$1.88 MX$32.60

-50.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 SAR 8.94

$1.56 MX$26.97

52.56%

Eggs

$2.40 SAR 9.01

$2.61 MX$45.14

-8.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 SAR 26.35

$8.32 MX$144

-15.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 SAR 28.42

$8.35 MX$145

-9.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.80 SAR 48.06

$10.86 MX$188

17.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.24

$2.71 MX$46.93

-19.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.91

$1.51 MX$26.04

3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.87 MX$32.41

-9.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

$2.19 MX$37.89

-25.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.65

$1.86 MX$32.14

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$2.23 MX$38.59

-40.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 SAR 4.46

$1.07 MX$18.48

11.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$1.09 MX$18.79

-50.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.18 SAR 11.95

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.09 SAR 26.61

$4.19 MX$72.4

69.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.54 MX$9.37

92.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.00 SAR 150

$26.16 MX$453

52.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 SAR 9.72

$3.08 MX$53.3

-15.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$2.40 MX$41.61

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 SAR 49.64

$3.13 MX$54.1

322.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.30

$1.31 MX$22.69

-53.44%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.2K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-9.59%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.2K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-3.88%

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

$104 SAR 391

$81.3 MX$1,406

28.04%

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

$34.12 SAR 128

$22.56 MX$390

51.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 SAR 275

$30.05 MX$520

143.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.7 SAR 224

$52.9 MX$915

12.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.17 SAR 132

$18.39 MX$318

91.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.58 SAR 58.5

$4.92 MX$85.1

216.67%

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

$359 SAR 1,347

$201 MX$3,474

78.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,946 SAR 26.1K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

34.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 SAR 222

$35.92 MX$622

64.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.7 SAR 224

$40.13 MX$694

48.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 SAR 303

$79.7 MX$1,379

1.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 SAR 307

$86.5 MX$1,496

-5.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 SAR 850

$978 MX$16.9K

-76.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 SAR 1,416

$470 MX$8,140

-19.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 SAR 1,293

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-79.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$308 SAR 1,156

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-74.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,298 SAR 8,629

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-41.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,294 SAR 4,859

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-80.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$922 SAR 3,464

$677 MX$11.7K

36.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

11.42

-61.30%

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

Last update for Sakakah: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Sakakah versus $978 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 run about 36% higher in Sakakah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Sakakah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Sakakah vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Sakakah 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

Sakakah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,739 per month in Sakakah and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sakakah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,159 in Sakakah and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 53% less in Sakakah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sakakah, where all-in costs run around $1,159, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Sakakah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sakakah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sakakah. 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.