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 $1,192 per month in Sakakah vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,646 per month in Sakakah vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,100 per month in Sakakah vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sakakah is about 7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sakakah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sakakah 11% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 SAR 22.41

$11.94 MX$209

-49.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.23 SAR 170

$42.75 MX$748

5.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 SAR 29.92

$10.59 MX$185

-24.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 SAR 7.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

Cappuccino

$3.62 SAR 13.57

$3.62 MX$63.4

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

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$1.47 MX$25.69

-55.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 SAR 1.28

$0.94 MX$16.51

-63.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.36

$1.43 MX$24.94

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.88 MX$32.97

-48.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.58

$1.63 MX$28.50

40.49%

Eggs

$2.50 SAR 9.38

$2.64 MX$46.26

-5.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 SAR 25.59

$8.21 MX$144

-16.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.51 SAR 28.18

$8.29 MX$145

-9.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.00 SAR 48.76

$11.10 MX$194

17.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.18

$2.65 MX$46.40

-17.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 5.98

$1.50 MX$26.26

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.27

$1.99 MX$34.79

-16.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.04

$2.08 MX$36.33

-22.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.79 MX$31.29

-27.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.99

$2.18 MX$38.09

-38.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 SAR 4.43

$1.08 MX$18.84

9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.03

$1.04 MX$18.15

-48.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.64 SAR 9.89

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.21 SAR 27.03

$3.97 MX$69.5

81.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 SAR 3.97

$0.52 MX$9.07

103.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.48 SAR 152

$26.97 MX$472

50.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.84

$3.14 MX$55.0

-16.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$2.40 MX$42.04

-22.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.21 SAR 49.52

$3.09 MX$54.0

327.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 SAR 2.16

$1.27 MX$22.28

-54.33%

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

$26.3K SAR 98.8K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-14.71%

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

$22.5K SAR 84.4K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

-3.49%

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

$107 SAR 401

$82.0 MX$1,435

30.48%

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

$33.51 SAR 126

$22.45 MX$393

49.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.6 SAR 268

$29.66 MX$519

141.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 SAR 222

$51.9 MX$908

14.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.11 SAR 135

$18.67 MX$327

93.41%

Cinema Ticket

$15.56 SAR 58.3

$4.97 MX$87.0

213.08%

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

$352 SAR 1,320

$198 MX$3,462

77.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,865 SAR 25.7K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

30.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 SAR 224

$36.34 MX$636

64.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.3 SAR 230

$40.05 MX$701

52.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 SAR 293

$79.9 MX$1,398

-2.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 SAR 308

$88.9 MX$1,555

-7.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 SAR 835

$963 MX$16.9K

-76.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 SAR 1,437

$465 MX$8,133

-17.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 SAR 1,278

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-78.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 SAR 1,126

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-75.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 SAR 8,796

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-40.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 SAR 5,755

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-76.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$928 SAR 3,480

$720 MX$12.6K

28.83%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $223 in Sakakah versus $963 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 29% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Sakakah vs $251 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 8%, 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 $1,787 per month in Sakakah and $1,930 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 $1,192 in Sakakah and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% 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 $1,192, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.