Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Shiraz: $542 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Shiraz, Iran
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Shiraz
🇮🇷 Iran
$542
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Shiraz and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shiraz and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $542 per month in Shiraz vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Shiraz $542
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $813 per month in Shiraz vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Shiraz $813
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $1,084 per month in Shiraz vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Shiraz $1,084
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Shiraz is about 55% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Shiraz and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Shiraz 60% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 $4.63
$10.92 MX$204
-57.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.20 $13.20
$43.37 MX$808
-69.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.07 $4.07
$11.78 MX$220
-65.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 $0.98
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.21 $1.21
$3.81 MX$71.0
-68.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 $0.62
$1.28 MX$23.90
-51.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.78 MX$14.59
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.17 MX$59.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.93 MX$92.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 $0.70
$1.41 MX$26.22
-50.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 $0.41
$2.22 MX$41.33
-81.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.42 MX$26.42
32.39%
Eggs
$1.18 $1.18
$2.52 MX$47.03
-53.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$7.26 MX$135
-68.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$7.70 MX$143
-61.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.58 $9.58
$12.69 MX$237
-24.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.78 MX$51.9
-60.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.37 MX$25.50
13.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.55 MX$47.55
-65.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 $0.60
$2.12 MX$39.58
-71.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 $0.57
$1.94 MX$36.13
-70.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.89 MX$35.16
-72.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 $0.47
$1.15 MX$21.37
-59.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 $0.21
$1.18 MX$21.98
-82.20%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.89 $0.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 $0.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 $3.04
$4.30 MX$80.1
-29.30%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$9.95 MX$185
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 MX$29.52
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.67 MX$49.79
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 $0.11
$0.55 MX$10.31
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.95 $2.95
$26.62 MX$496
-88.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 $0.41
$4.97 MX$92.6
-91.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 $0.20
$3.33 MX$62.1
-93.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$5.36 MX$99.8
-36.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.44 MX$26.92
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$64.9K $64.9K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
214.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K $53.3K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
127.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.44 $23.44
$84.8 MX$1,581
-72.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.98 $1.98
$23.41 MX$436
-91.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.86 $16.86
$28.66 MX$534
-41.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.75 $18.75
$57.1 MX$1,063
-67.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.68 $13.68
$28.91 MX$539
-52.68%
Cinema Ticket
$2.02 $2.02
$5.14 MX$95.8
-60.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$102 $102
$207 MX$3,851
-50.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,401 $2,401
$3,927 MX$73.2K
-38.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.72 $22.72
$43.35 MX$808
-47.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.07 $18.07
$41.44 MX$772
-56.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 $93.8
$74.2 MX$1,383
26.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.6 $55.6
$89.3 MX$1,664
-37.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$293 $293
$980 MX$18.3K
-70.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$218 $218
$381 MX$7,099
-42.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 $526
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-69.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$325 $325
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-69.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,127 $1,127
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-71.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$517 $517
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-91.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shiraz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$243 $243
$735 MX$13.7K
-66.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
11.45
112.23%

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

Last update for Shiraz: October 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shiraz
$218
Playa del Carmen
$381 75% $163
Groceries & Markets
Shiraz
$102
Playa del Carmen
$255 149% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Shiraz
$86
Playa del Carmen
$112 30.6% $26
Eating Out
Shiraz
$66 *
Playa del Carmen
$202 205% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiraz
$42
Playa del Carmen
$137 224% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Shiraz
$23
Playa del Carmen
$67 195% $45
Getting Around
Shiraz
$4.8
Playa del Carmen
$50 953% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $293 in Shiraz versus $980 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 in Playa del Carmen are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13 in Shiraz versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $255 – making Shiraz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Shiraz
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
19:31 7:31 PM
11:01 11:01 AM
8 h 30 min behind Shiraz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,565,572
149,923
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shiraz Playa del Carmen 12,950 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Shiraz
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Shiraz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shiraz cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 122%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $813 per month in Shiraz and $1,806 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 Shiraz, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $293 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Shiraz and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $542 in Shiraz and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a gap of about 122%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 89% less in Shiraz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Shiraz or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shiraz, where all-in costs run around $542, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Shiraz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shiraz or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shiraz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shiraz. 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.

Shiraz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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