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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Unaizah vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,694 per month in Unaizah vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,286 per month in Unaizah vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Unaizah is about 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Unaizah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Unaizah 19% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.62 SAR 24.85

$11.60 MX$200

-42.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.80 SAR 149

$47.11 MX$812

-15.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 SAR 26.23

$11.88 MX$205

-41.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

Cappuccino

$3.99 SAR 14.99

$3.98 MX$68.6

0.25%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.77

$1.43 MX$24.60

-48.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.82 MX$14.22

-65.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 SAR 5.54

$1.68 MX$28.89

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.31 SAR 1.17

$2.20 MX$37.88

-85.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 SAR 8.03

$1.71 MX$29.45

25.15%

Eggs

$2.40 SAR 9.02

$2.74 MX$47.26

-12.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.92 SAR 22.23

$9.58 MX$165

-38.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 SAR 17.26

$9.01 MX$155

-48.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.73 SAR 47.81

$12.81 MX$221

-0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.15 SAR 8.08

$2.89 MX$49.81

-25.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

$1.50 MX$25.81

5.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$2.15 MX$37.03

-28.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.33

$2.26 MX$38.96

-25.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 SAR 4.44

$1.98 MX$34.15

-40.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$1.99 MX$34.30

31.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 SAR 4.27

$1.23 MX$21.28

-7.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$1.20 MX$20.63

-46.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.84 SAR 10.66

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.35

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.56 SAR 24.63

$4.55 MX$78.5

44.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 SAR 3.98

$0.60 MX$10.35

76.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.06 SAR 135

$28.80 MX$497

25.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 SAR 10.72

$5.39 MX$92.9

-46.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 SAR 6.80

$3.73 MX$64.3

-51.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 SAR 50.7

$5.77 MX$99.5

134.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$1.54 MX$26.48

-58.44%

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

$46.3K SAR 174.1K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

105.52%

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

$21.5K SAR 80.9K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-17.35%

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

$99.6 SAR 374

$91.4 MX$1,576

9.00%

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

$31.98 SAR 120

$25.20 MX$435

26.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.1 SAR 256

$31.24 MX$539

118.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 SAR 202

$67.2 MX$1,159

-19.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.87 SAR 139

$29.11 MX$502

26.66%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 SAR 49.22

$4.86 MX$83.8

169.55%

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

$347 SAR 1,303

$224 MX$3,856

55.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,702 SAR 25.2K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

58.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 SAR 190

$47.10 MX$812

7.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.1 SAR 222

$44.29 MX$764

33.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 SAR 364

$80.1 MX$1,381

20.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 SAR 335

$92.7 MX$1,598

-3.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 SAR 2,163

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-45.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 SAR 1,275

$390 MX$6,728

-13.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 SAR 3,353

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-58.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 SAR 2,087

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-56.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,401 SAR 9,020

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-39.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,380 SAR 5,182

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-78.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,517 SAR 9,453

$758 MX$13.1K

231.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

11.45

-52.23%

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

Last update for Unaizah: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $576 in Unaizah versus $1,063 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 232% higher in Unaizah, 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 Unaizah versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $276 – making Unaizah 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,652 per month in Unaizah and $1,899 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 Unaizah, 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 $1,101 in Unaizah and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Unaizah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Unaizah, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Unaizah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Unaizah – 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 Unaizah. 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.