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 $916 per month in Taif vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,470 per month in Taif vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,023 per month in Taif vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Taif is about 27% 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 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$11.99 MX$210

-55.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.54 SAR 152

$41.78 MX$733

-2.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 SAR 25.53

$10.75 MX$189

-36.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 SAR 7.35

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

Cappuccino

$2.94 SAR 11.04

$3.50 MX$61.3

-16.00%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.91

$1.45 MX$25.41

-46.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.88 MX$15.52

-68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.43 MX$25.12

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.05

$1.84 MX$32.23

-84.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.59

$1.57 MX$27.51

45.86%

Eggs

$2.58 SAR 9.70

$2.51 MX$44.06

2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.28

$8.28 MX$145

-12.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 SAR 23.38

$8.43 MX$148

-26.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 SAR 39.86

$10.68 MX$187

-0.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 SAR 8.57

$2.61 MX$45.76

-12.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.44 MX$25.22

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.45

$1.96 MX$34.41

1.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

$2.09 MX$36.74

-12.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.40

$1.85 MX$32.47

-22.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$2.17 MX$38.02

-25.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 SAR 3.48

$1.03 MX$18.09

-9.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SAR 3.87

$1.07 MX$18.84

-3.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 SAR 25.26

$4.10 MX$72.0

64.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.51 MX$8.93

113.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.58 SAR 149

$26.04 MX$457

52.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$3.23 MX$56.7

-18.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 SAR 7.58

$2.41 MX$42.19

-16.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.06 SAR 49.03

$3.23 MX$56.6

304.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$1.32 MX$23.17

-52.27%

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

$20.0K SAR 75.1K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-32.70%

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

$20.6K SAR 77.2K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-13.10%

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

$75.3 SAR 283

$82.0 MX$1,439

-8.23%

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

$28.59 SAR 107

$22.95 MX$403

24.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 SAR 323

$30.11 MX$528

185.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 SAR 288

$52.0 MX$912

47.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.83 SAR 142

$18.53 MX$325

104.16%

Cinema Ticket

$17.16 SAR 64.4

$4.98 MX$87.3

244.58%

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

$263 SAR 986

$197 MX$3,463

32.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,622 SAR 21.1K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

5.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.70 SAR 149

$35.60 MX$624

11.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.96 SAR 158

$40.33 MX$707

4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 SAR 292

$78.8 MX$1,381

-1.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.39 SAR 178

$88.9 MX$1,560

-46.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 SAR 808

$947 MX$16.6K

-77.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 SAR 644

$474 MX$8,314

-63.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 SAR 1,642

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-73.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,302

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-71.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,332 SAR 8,755

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-42.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 SAR 5,076

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-79.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,814 SAR 6,812

$654 MX$11.5K

177.40%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Taif versus $947 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 177% 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 $41.00 in Taif versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 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 37%, 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 $1,374 per month in Taif and $1,884 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 $916 in Taif and $1,256 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 $916, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.