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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,038 per month in Yanbu vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,626 per month in Yanbu vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,214 per month in Yanbu vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yanbu is about 18% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yanbu and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yanbu 24% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 SAR 24.47

$11.60 MX$200

-43.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.19 SAR 140

$47.11 MX$812

-21.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 SAR 25.73

$11.88 MX$205

-42.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 SAR 6.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

Cappuccino

$3.57 SAR 13.40

$3.98 MX$68.6

-10.30%

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

$0.79 SAR 2.97

$1.43 MX$24.60

-44.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.82 MX$14.22

-75.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 SAR 6.40

$1.68 MX$28.89

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 SAR 3.32

$2.20 MX$37.88

-60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$1.71 MX$29.45

26.32%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$2.74 MX$47.26

-12.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 SAR 23.82

$9.58 MX$165

-33.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 SAR 30.98

$9.01 MX$155

-8.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.30 SAR 49.97

$12.81 MX$221

3.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.89 MX$49.81

-27.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.50 MX$25.81

14.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 SAR 5.67

$2.15 MX$37.03

-29.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.29

$2.26 MX$38.96

-26.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 SAR 4.38

$1.98 MX$34.15

-40.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$1.99 MX$34.30

-45.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 SAR 3.92

$1.23 MX$21.28

-15.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 2.00

$1.20 MX$20.63

-55.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 SAR 7.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.72 SAR 25.24

$4.55 MX$78.5

47.69%

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)

$1.04 SAR 3.92

$0.60 MX$10.35

73.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.14 SAR 98.2

$28.80 MX$497

-9.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 SAR 12.07

$5.39 MX$92.9

-40.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 SAR 2.93

$3.73 MX$64.3

-79.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.61 SAR 51.1

$5.77 MX$99.5

135.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$1.54 MX$26.48

-59.74%

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

$46.4K SAR 174.3K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

105.83%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.6K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-17.69%

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

$102 SAR 384

$91.4 MX$1,576

11.82%

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

$22.45 SAR 84.3

$25.20 MX$435

-10.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 SAR 253

$31.24 MX$539

115.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 SAR 357

$67.2 MX$1,159

41.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.16 SAR 98.2

$29.11 MX$502

-10.13%

Cinema Ticket

$11.96 SAR 44.91

$4.86 MX$83.8

146.09%

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

$266 SAR 998

$224 MX$3,856

18.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,837 SAR 14.4K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-9.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 SAR 252

$47.10 MX$812

42.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 SAR 229

$44.29 MX$764

37.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$80.1 MX$1,381

22.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 SAR 368

$92.7 MX$1,598

5.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 SAR 1,176

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-70.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 SAR 790

$390 MX$6,728

-46.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 SAR 2,234

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-72.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 SAR 1,597

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-66.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,470 SAR 13.0K

$758 MX$13.1K

357.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

11.45

-52.93%

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

Last update for Yanbu: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $313 in Yanbu 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 358% higher in Yanbu, 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 $37.00 in Yanbu versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $276 – making Yanbu 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,556 per month in Yanbu 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 Yanbu, 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 $1,038 in Yanbu 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 10% less in Yanbu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yanbu, where all-in costs run around $1,038, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Yanbu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yanbu – 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 Yanbu. 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.