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111
Cost of Living Index in Canada
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Playa del Carmen
For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,215 a month against $2,227 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 12.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 83.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 21.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 46.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$10.97 MX$201
-14.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$44.85 MX$823
34.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$11.92 MX$219
-18.71%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$3.80 MX$69.9
40.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$1.31 MX$24.08
-19.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$0.86 MX$15.72
-46.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$3.21 MX$59.0
267.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$5.01 MX$92.0
146.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$1.46 MX$26.77
17.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$2.33 MX$42.72
-37.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$1.44 MX$26.48
48.61%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$2.46 MX$45.20
30.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$7.70 MX$141
37.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$7.89 MX$145
11.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$12.80 MX$235
-9.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$2.92 MX$53.6
-15.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$1.42 MX$26.11
24.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$2.57 MX$47.10
-34.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$2.14 MX$39.24
-36.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$1.95 MX$35.75
-45.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$1.94 MX$35.55
-45.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$1.15 MX$21.13
29.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$1.22 MX$22.42
-54.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$4.38 MX$80.3
39.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$9.85 MX$181
37.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$1.54 MX$28.23
57.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$2.72 MX$49.86
1.47%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$0.52 MX$9.64
211.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$27.42 MX$503
71.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$4.91 MX$90.2
-33.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$3.52 MX$64.7
-82.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$5.69 MX$104
46.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.54 MX$28.27
-38.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$21.2K MX$389.9K
111.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$24.5K MX$449.6K
-8.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$83.6 MX$1,535
136.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$24.03 MX$441
122.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$29.33 MX$539
211.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$64.9 MX$1,191
13.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$29.46 MX$541
13.54%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$5.09 MX$93.4
170.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$208 MX$3,813
174.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$4,045 MX$74.3K
201.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$44.55 MX$818
37.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$42.06 MX$772
37.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$75.5 MX$1,387
31.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$91.4 MX$1,678
9.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$986 MX$18.1K
57.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$385 MX$7,072
183.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$1,713 MX$31.5K
59.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$1,108 MX$20.4K
82.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$4,016 MX$73.7K
40.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$6,247 MX$114.7K
-54.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$758 MX$13.9K
272.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
11.45
-59.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $1.1K 48.3%
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4% 64.7% $707
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $342 15.2%
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2% 60% $205
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $263 11.6%
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2% 1% $2.7
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $258 11.4%
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6% 21% $54
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $143 6.4%
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3% 20.5% $29
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $101 4.5%
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1% 26% $26
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $60 2.7%
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2% 13% $7.8
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $2K 45%
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5% 45.2% $914
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $396 8.8%
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3% 59.3% $235
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $599 13.3%
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8% 0.6% $3.4
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $801 17.8%
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8% 21.2% $170
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $319 7.1%
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3% 20.5% $65
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $236 5.3%
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9% 24% $57
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $123 2.7%
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5% 14.5% $18
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
Weather
Population
9,890,400
149,923
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United Arab Emirates Playa del Carmen 13,490 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
- United Arab Emirates
- Playa del Carmen
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United Arab Emirates vs other spots: cost of living compared
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