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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $552 per month in Samarkand vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $900 per month in Samarkand vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,247 per month in Samarkand vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Samarkand is about 56% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Samarkand and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Samarkand 59% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 UZS 56.5K

$11.95 MX$208

-60.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.70 UZS 211.9K

$41.94 MX$731

-57.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.45 UZS 53.3K

$10.42 MX$182

-57.29%

Cappuccino

$1.75 UZS 21.0K

$3.51 MX$61.3

-50.14%

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

$0.42 UZS 5,036

$1.52 MX$26.44

-72.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 UZS 2,990

$0.91 MX$15.88

-72.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 UZS 14.8K

$3.04 MX$53.0

-59.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 UZS 23.1K

$4.37 MX$76.2

-55.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 UZS 12.1K

$1.42 MX$24.78

-28.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 UZS 4,847

$1.83 MX$31.93

-78.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 UZS 18.9K

$1.63 MX$28.51

-3.68%

Eggs

$1.25 UZS 15.0K

$2.54 MX$44.29

-50.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 UZS 93.4K

$8.57 MX$149

-8.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 UZS 44.4K

$8.49 MX$148

-56.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.34 UZS 99.9K

$10.80 MX$188

-22.78%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 UZS 9,746

$2.75 MX$48.04

-70.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 UZS 20.9K

$1.44 MX$25.05

20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 UZS 18.5K

$1.89 MX$32.90

-18.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 UZS 17.5K

$2.17 MX$37.84

-32.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 UZS 5,486

$1.78 MX$31.03

-74.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.18 UZS 2,108

$2.22 MX$38.79

-91.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 UZS 2,735

$1.07 MX$18.64

-78.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 UZS 4,897

$1.08 MX$18.83

-62.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 UZS 18.8K

$4.15 MX$72.3

-62.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.36 UZS 40.2K

$10.45 MX$182

-67.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 UZS 11.8K

$1.74 MX$30.40

-43.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 UZS 23.9K

$2.58 MX$45.01

-22.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 UZS 2,739

$0.51 MX$8.95

-54.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.13 UZS 37.5K

$25.94 MX$452

-87.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 UZS 4,534

$3.21 MX$56.0

-88.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 UZS 2,024

$2.50 MX$43.64

-93.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 UZS 28.8K

$3.19 MX$55.6

-24.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 UZS 11.7K

$1.26 MX$21.91

-23.02%

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

$20.1K UZS 241.2M

$29.7K MX$517.7K

-32.15%

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

$24.9K UZS 297.9M

$23.7K MX$413.0K

5.04%

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

$39.92 UZS 478.0K

$82.0 MX$1,430

-51.33%

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

$3.50 UZS 41.9K

$22.73 MX$396

-84.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.96 UZS 143.2K

$29.42 MX$513

-59.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.43 UZS 436.2K

$52.2 MX$910

-30.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.40 UZS 76.6K

$18.45 MX$322

-65.31%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 UZS 34.4K

$4.93 MX$86.0

-41.78%

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

$119 UZS 1.4M

$202 MX$3,519

-41.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,691 UZS 56.2M

$5,217 MX$91.0K

-10.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 UZS 236.9K

$35.93 MX$627

-44.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.17 UZS 469.0K

$40.33 MX$703

-2.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 UZS 845.9K

$79.9 MX$1,393

-11.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 UZS 652.5K

$89.3 MX$1,557

-38.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 UZS 2.8M

$948 MX$16.5K

-75.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 UZS 1.6M

$465 MX$8,114

-72.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 UZS 5.2M

$1,630 MX$28.4K

-73.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 UZS 3.6M

$1,193 MX$20.8K

-74.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 UZS 14.7M

$3,933 MX$68.6K

-68.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$532 UZS 6.4M

$6,428 MX$112.1K

-91.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$299 UZS 3.6M

$658 MX$11.5K

-54.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.07

11.42

93.26%

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

Last update for Samarkand: July 22, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $230 in Samarkand versus $948 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 120% 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 $18.00 in Samarkand versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $252 – making Samarkand 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 128%, 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 $828 per month in Samarkand and $1,888 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 Samarkand, 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 $552 in Samarkand and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 729% less in Samarkand. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samarkand, where all-in costs run around $552, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. In Samarkand it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Samarkand – 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 Samarkand. 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.