🙂A single person spends $758 per month in Wadi As Sir vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,231 per month in Wadi As Sir vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,704 per month in Wadi As Sir vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Wadi As Sir is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Wadi As Sir and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Wadi As Sir43% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.97JOD 4.93
$11.73MX$203
-40.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.11JOD 34.76
$41.62MX$720
18.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.08JOD 5.01
$10.64MX$184
-33.46%
Cappuccino
$4.22JOD 2.98
$3.52MX$60.9
19.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52JOD 0.37
$1.51MX$26.12
-65.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34JOD 0.24
$0.97MX$16.84
-64.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.71JOD 4.04
$2.95MX$51.0
93.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01JOD 4.96
$4.45MX$77.0
57.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42JOD 1.00
$1.38MX$23.93
2.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56JOD 0.39
$1.89MX$32.72
-70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71JOD 1.21
$1.64MX$28.32
4.27%
Eggs
$2.53JOD 1.79
$2.51MX$43.34
0.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.71JOD 4.75
$8.34MX$144
-19.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.70JOD 4.74
$8.34MX$144
-19.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25JOD 7.96
$10.73MX$186
4.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00JOD 1.41
$2.60MX$45.04
-23.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69JOD 1.20
$1.46MX$25.20
15.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43JOD 1.01
$1.90MX$32.87
-24.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75JOD 0.53
$2.08MX$35.91
-63.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94JOD 0.67
$1.78MX$30.71
-47.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74JOD 0.53
$2.19MX$37.80
-66.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$1.04MX$17.99
-41.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64JOD 0.45
$1.08MX$18.62
-40.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58JOD 2.54
$4.08MX$70.6
-12.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.52JOD 15.23
$10.32MX$178
108.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.67JOD 3.30
$1.71MX$29.61
173.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.49JOD 3.89
$2.58MX$44.54
112.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69JOD 0.49
$3.26MX$56.4
-78.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45JOD 1.02
$2.49MX$43.09
-41.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.11JOD 5.03
$3.25MX$56.2
118.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40JOD 0.99
$1.31MX$22.61
6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KJOD 19.5K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-8.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KJOD 22.6K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
36.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103JOD 73.0
$82.9MX$1,433
24.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.01JOD 12.04
$22.22MX$384
-23.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39JOD 22.21
$29.34MX$507
6.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.08JOD 14.92
$51.6MX$893
-59.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19JOD 7.92
$5.07MX$87.6
120.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277JOD 196
$201MX$3,473
38.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,306JOD 3,755
$5,212MX$90.1K
1.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1JOD 43.25
$36.92MX$639
65.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5JOD 40.67
$39.79MX$688
44.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116JOD 81.8
$78.5MX$1,357
47.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9JOD 57.2
$87.1MX$1,506
-7.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277JOD 196
$973MX$16.8K
-71.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$630JOD 446
$1,641MX$28.4K
-61.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wadi As Sir
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
11.42
-36.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wadi As Sir: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Wadi As Sir 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Wadi As Sir versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Wadi As Sir vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Wadi As Sir wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Wadi As Sir vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Wadi As Sir?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,137 per month in Wadi As Sir and $1,945 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 Wadi As Sir, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Wadi As Sir vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $758 in Wadi As Sir and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $277 per month in Wadi As Sir and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Wadi As Sir or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Wadi As Sir, where all-in costs run around $758, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Wadi As Sir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wadi As Sir or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Wadi As Sir – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Wadi As Sir or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Wadi As Sir. 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.
Wadi As Sir vs other spots: cost of living compared