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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $265 per month in Shahrisabz vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $520 per month in Shahrisabz vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $774 per month in Shahrisabz vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Shahrisabz is about 79% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shahrisabz and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shahrisabz 80% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 UZS 56.9K
$11.87 MX$204
-59.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.80 UZS 249.1K
$42.90 MX$736
-51.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.01 UZS 24.1K
$10.65 MX$183
-81.13%
Cappuccino
$1.67 UZS 20.0K
$3.45 MX$59.2
-51.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 UZS 5,716
$1.50 MX$25.81
-68.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 UZS 3,261
$0.95 MX$16.28
-71.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 UZS 12.3K
$3.03 MX$51.9
-66.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 UZS 24.2K
$4.61 MX$79.1
-56.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.38 MX$23.61
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 UZS 3,126
$1.85 MX$31.70
-85.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 UZS 20.1K
$1.61 MX$27.65
4.35%
Eggs
$1.46 UZS 17.5K
$2.59 MX$44.51
-43.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.26 MX$142
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.04 UZS 24.4K
$8.37 MX$144
-75.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.82 UZS 81.7K
$10.66 MX$183
-36.02%
Apples (1kg)
$0.73 UZS 8,740
$2.63 MX$45.12
-72.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 UZS 20.2K
$1.49 MX$25.53
12.75%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.92 MX$32.94
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.09 MX$35.81
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.86 MX$31.88
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.26 MX$38.81
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.06 MX$18.23
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 UZS 4,774
$1.09 MX$18.67
-63.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.99 UZS 11.8K
$4.15 MX$71.2
-76.14%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.39 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 UZS 12.3K
$1.72 MX$29.59
-40.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 UZS 23.3K
$2.61 MX$44.85
-25.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 UZS 2,323
$0.54 MX$9.30
-64.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.94 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 UZS 4,667
$3.13 MX$53.7
-87.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.18 UZS 2,213
$2.51 MX$43.09
-92.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15 MX$54.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 UZS 11.3K
$1.27 MX$21.88
-25.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4K MX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6K MX$404.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.04 UZS 563.3K
$83.0 MX$1,425
-43.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99 UZS 47.7K
$22.71 MX$390
-82.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.13 UZS 109.4K
$29.46 MX$506
-69.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.54 UZS 365.8K
$51.0 MX$875
-40.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33 MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.10 UZS 85.0K
$4.93 MX$84.5
44.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$197 MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.15 UZS 145.5K
$36.90 MX$633
-67.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.16 UZS 133.7K
$39.89 MX$685
-72.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.0 MX$1,373
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5 MX$1,536
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$215 UZS 2.6M
$956 MX$16.4K
-77.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$477 MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 UZS 2.4M
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-87.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 UZS 1.8M
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-87.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shahrisabz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$416 UZS 5.0M
$667 MX$11.4K
-37.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.42
-

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

Last update for Shahrisabz: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Shahrisabz versus $956 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 60% 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 $21.00 in Shahrisabz versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $73.0 vs $250 – making Shahrisabz 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
Shahrisabz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Shahrisabz?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 379%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $398 per month in Shahrisabz and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shahrisabz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Shahrisabz and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 241% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Shahrisabz or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Shahrisabz and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Shahrisabz or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahrisabz, where all-in costs run around $265, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Shahrisabz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shahrisabz or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shahrisabz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Shahrisabz or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shahrisabz. 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.

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