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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shaab is 16.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shaab is 42.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.04 KWD 3.09
$11.61 MX$200
-13.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 KWD 25.07
$42.75 MX$738
90.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.20 KWD 2.83
$10.60 MX$183
-13.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 KWD 0.77
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 KWD 1.16
-
-
Cappuccino
$6.07 KWD 1.87
$3.59 MX$62.0
69.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 KWD 0.21
$1.45 MX$25.08
-52.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 KWD 0.12
$0.90 MX$15.50
-58.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03 MX$52.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.56 MX$78.8
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 KWD 0.48
$1.45 MX$25.07
8.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 KWD 0.38
$1.83 MX$31.55
-32.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 KWD 0.53
$1.61 MX$27.77
6.83%
Eggs
$2.09 KWD 0.64
$2.54 MX$43.82
-17.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.13 KWD 1.58
$8.54 MX$148
-39.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.67 KWD 2.05
$8.47 MX$146
-21.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.30 KWD 3.17
$10.86 MX$188
-5.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 KWD 0.74
$2.73 MX$47.13
-11.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 KWD 0.59
$1.49 MX$25.77
27.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 KWD 0.56
$1.94 MX$33.55
-6.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 KWD 0.45
$2.16 MX$37.38
-32.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 KWD 0.39
$1.85 MX$31.88
-31.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 KWD 0.41
$2.19 MX$37.80
-39.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 KWD 0.50
$1.07 MX$18.52
52.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 KWD 0.14
$1.08 MX$18.71
-57.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.17 KWD 0.98
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 KWD 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 KWD 0.42
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88 KWD 0.89
$4.06 MX$70.1
-29.06%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.46 MX$181
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.65 MX$28.56
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.55 MX$44.01
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 KWD 0.26
$0.56 MX$9.60
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.78 KWD 13.48
$26.20 MX$453
67.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 KWD 0.99
$3.14 MX$54.2
2.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.30 KWD 1.02
$2.37 MX$40.96
39.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.28 KWD 5.01
$3.24 MX$56.0
402.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.34 KWD 0.10
$1.31 MX$22.70
-74.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K KWD 6,499
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-30.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K KWD 6,221
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-15.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.9 KWD 19.37
$83.1 MX$1,436
-24.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.56 KWD 5.72
$22.15 MX$383
-16.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.24 KWD 8.08
$29.37 MX$507
-10.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.7 KWD 29.17
$51.2 MX$884
85.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.92 KWD 14.14
$18.69 MX$323
145.69%
Cinema Ticket
$11.63 KWD 3.58
$4.89 MX$84.4
137.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$406 KWD 125
$199 MX$3,431
104.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,673 KWD 2,055
$5,207 MX$89.9K
28.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.74 KWD 13.16
$35.93 MX$621
18.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 KWD 12.92
$39.39 MX$680
6.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 KWD 26.67
$80.3 MX$1,387
7.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 KWD 24.73
$87.6 MX$1,512
-8.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 KWD 247
$963 MX$16.6K
-16.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 KWD 188
$482 MX$8,326
26.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,591 KWD 490
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-3.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 KWD 392
$1,192 MX$20.6K
6.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shaab
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,280 KWD 1,010
$726 MX$12.5K
351.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.14
11.42
-37.48%

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

Last update for Shaab: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

Shaab vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities