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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $423 per month in Zanjan vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $766 per month in Zanjan vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,109 per month in Zanjan vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zanjan is about 67% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zanjan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zanjan 69% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.92 $2.92

$11.60 MX$200

-74.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.20 $13.20

$47.11 MX$812

-71.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.04 $3.04

$11.88 MX$205

-74.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 $0.92

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

Cappuccino

$0.93 $0.93

$3.98 MX$68.6

-76.63%

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

$0.51 $0.51

$1.43 MX$24.60

-64.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.82 MX$14.22

37.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.68 MX$28.89

-57.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 $0.58

$2.20 MX$37.88

-73.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.71 MX$29.45

85.38%

Eggs

$1.26 $1.26

$2.74 MX$47.26

-54.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$9.58 MX$165

-57.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$9.01 MX$155

-64.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.88 $8.88

$12.81 MX$221

-30.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.89 MX$49.81

-62.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.50 MX$25.81

3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$2.15 MX$37.03

-59.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 $0.45

$2.26 MX$38.96

-80.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$1.98 MX$34.15

-74.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.99 MX$34.30

-75.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 $0.43

$1.23 MX$21.28

-65.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 $0.26

$1.20 MX$20.63

-78.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 $1.79

$4.55 MX$78.5

-60.66%

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)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.60 MX$10.35

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.99 $9.99

$28.80 MX$497

-65.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 $0.31

$5.39 MX$92.9

-94.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$3.73 MX$64.3

-92.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 $1.03

$5.77 MX$99.5

-82.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 $0.03

$1.54 MX$26.48

-98.05%

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

$50.8K $50.8K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

125.40%

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

$43.0K $43.0K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

65.15%

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

$13.14 $13.14

$91.4 MX$1,576

-85.62%

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

$1.52 $1.52

$25.20 MX$435

-93.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.73 $3.73

$31.24 MX$539

-88.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.71 $12.71

$67.2 MX$1,159

-81.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.65 $12.65

$29.11 MX$502

-56.54%

Cinema Ticket

$2.02 $2.02

$4.86 MX$83.8

-58.44%

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

$111 $111

$224 MX$3,856

-50.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,606 $2,606

$4,229 MX$72.9K

-38.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.81 $26.81

$47.10 MX$812

-43.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.08 $37.08

$44.29 MX$764

-16.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$80.1 MX$1,381

33.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.0 $76.0

$92.7 MX$1,598

-17.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 $135

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-87.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.7 $98.7

$390 MX$6,728

-74.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 $392

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-81.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 $316

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-75.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 $805

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-79.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$458 $458

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-92.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 $284

$758 MX$13.1K

-62.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

100.87%

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

Last update for Zanjan: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $135 in Zanjan 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 167% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Zanjan versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $113 vs $276 – making Zanjan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 199%, 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 $634 per month in Zanjan 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 Zanjan, 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 $423 in Zanjan 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 188% less in Zanjan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zanjan, where all-in costs run around $423, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Zanjan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zanjan – 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 Zanjan. 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.