😐A single person spends $2,061 per month in Xghajra vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,089 per month in Xghajra vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,116 per month in Xghajra vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Xghajra costs about 58% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Xghajra sits 49% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.24€17.45
$11.96MX$203
69.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.4€76.2
$47.38MX$804
86.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.01€12.08
$11.75MX$199
19.23%
Cappuccino
$2.86€2.46
$4.12MX$70.0
-30.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.84
$1.40MX$23.74
135.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.95
$0.91MX$15.48
149.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.76€4.11
$3.21MX$54.4
48.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27€4.54
$7.07MX$120
-25.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.23
$1.68MX$28.44
-14.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35€1.16
$2.15MX$36.48
-37.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.37€3.76
$1.77MX$30.10
146.89%
Eggs
$4.42€3.81
$2.82MX$47.76
56.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59€7.41
$9.20MX$156
-6.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.72€9.24
$9.23MX$157
16.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.80€16.21
$12.64MX$214
48.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.35€3.75
$2.95MX$50.1
47.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92€2.52
$1.58MX$26.79
84.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78€3.26
$2.22MX$37.70
70.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$2.36MX$40.09
46.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50€2.16
$1.99MX$33.81
25.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.84
$1.98MX$33.58
8.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.45€2.11
$1.24MX$21.04
97.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$1.21MX$20.55
11.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.03
$4.60MX$78.1
51.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.65€7.46
$10.52MX$178
-17.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.56
$1.69MX$28.70
7.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$2.77MX$47.06
-12.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52€2.17
$0.60MX$10.22
320.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.94€5.12
$5.24MX$88.8
13.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.01
$3.65MX$61.9
-35.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.94€24.08
$5.78MX$98.1
383.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56€1.35
$1.54MX$26.09
1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.2K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
69.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K€34.8K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
56.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107€91.9
$90.7MX$1,538
17.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.93€22.35
$25.19MX$427
2.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.49€38.35
$31.75MX$539
40.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.0€56.9
$68.8MX$1,167
-4.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.57€9.11
$4.86MX$82.5
117.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$384€331
$226MX$3,828
70.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€9,823
$4,194MX$71.1K
171.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1€76.8
$47.38MX$804
87.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.42€36.56
$43.45MX$737
-2.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.8
$80.2MX$1,361
29.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4€70.2
$91.4MX$1,550
-10.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,168€1,007
$1,086MX$18.4K
7.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$965€832
$409MX$6,933
136.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,874€1,615
$1,972MX$33.5K
-4.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,546€1,332
$1,281MX$21.7K
20.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,941€3,397
$4,046MX$68.6K
-2.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,935€2,530
$6,704MX$113.7K
-56.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xghajra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
11.45
-74.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xghajra: September 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,168 in Xghajra versus $1,086 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 $88.0 in Xghajra versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $278 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Xghajra vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Xghajra?
Yes – Xghajra is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,092 per month in Xghajra and $1,958 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Xghajra and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,061 in Xghajra and $1,305 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 $384 per month in Xghajra and $226 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 living in Xghajra or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Xghajra at $2,061. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Xghajra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Xghajra or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Xghajra 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Xghajra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.