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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $922 per month in Taif vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Taif vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,011 per month in Taif vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Taif is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Taif and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Taif 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.25 SAR 19.69

$11.73 MX$203

-55.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.17 SAR 151

$41.62 MX$720

-3.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 SAR 25.18

$10.64 MX$184

-36.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 SAR 7.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

Cappuccino

$2.92 SAR 10.96

$3.52 MX$60.9

-17.05%

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

$0.72 SAR 2.70

$1.51 MX$26.12

-52.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.97 MX$16.84

-73.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.38 MX$23.93

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.96

$1.89 MX$32.72

-86.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$1.64 MX$28.32

43.90%

Eggs

$2.56 SAR 9.61

$2.51 MX$43.34

1.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.38 SAR 27.70

$8.34 MX$144

-11.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.49

$8.34 MX$144

-28.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 SAR 40.25

$10.73 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 SAR 8.55

$2.60 MX$45.04

-12.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.46 MX$25.20

8.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.90 MX$32.87

6.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 SAR 7.19

$2.08 MX$35.91

-7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.78 MX$30.71

-17.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.87

$2.19 MX$37.80

-28.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$1.04 MX$17.99

-18.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 SAR 3.65

$1.08 MX$18.62

-10.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.20

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 SAR 24.56

$4.08 MX$70.6

60.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$0.51 MX$8.81

111.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.19 SAR 151

$26.46 MX$458

51.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 SAR 10.21

$3.26 MX$56.4

-16.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 SAR 7.67

$2.49 MX$43.09

-18.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.18 SAR 49.45

$3.25 MX$56.2

305.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$1.31 MX$22.61

-54.20%

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

$19.7K SAR 74.0K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-34.87%

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

$20.0K SAR 75.0K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

-14.70%

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

$73.2 SAR 275

$82.9 MX$1,433

-11.66%

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

$28.41 SAR 107

$22.22 MX$384

27.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.5 SAR 332

$29.34 MX$507

201.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.0 SAR 285

$51.6 MX$893

47.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.04 SAR 139

$18.32 MX$317

102.18%

Cinema Ticket

$17.58 SAR 66.0

$5.07 MX$87.6

246.75%

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

$264 SAR 991

$201 MX$3,473

31.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,548 SAR 20.8K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

6.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.85 SAR 146

$36.92 MX$639

5.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 SAR 158

$39.79 MX$688

5.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 SAR 300

$78.5 MX$1,357

1.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.88 SAR 176

$87.1 MX$1,506

-46.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 SAR 804

$973 MX$16.8K

-77.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 SAR 649

$468 MX$8,090

-63.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,626

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-73.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 SAR 1,309

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-71.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,130 SAR 7,993

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-46.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,248 SAR 4,685

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-80.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,031 SAR 7,622

$664 MX$11.5K

205.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

11.42

-59.72%

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

Last update for Taif: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $214 in Taif versus $973 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 206% higher in Taif, 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 $40.00 in Taif versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $249 – making Taif 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,383 per month in Taif and $1,945 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 Taif, 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 $922 in Taif and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Taif. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taif, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Taif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taif – 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 Taif. 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.