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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $359 per month in Zaqatala vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $599 per month in Zaqatala vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $839 per month in Zaqatala vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zaqatala is about 72% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zaqatala and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zaqatala 73% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 ₼9.01

$11.94 MX$209

-55.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.91 ₼35.55

$42.75 MX$748

-51.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 ₼12.28

$10.59 MX$185

-31.82%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₼4.06

$3.62 MX$63.4

-33.98%

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

$0.60 ₼1.02

$1.47 MX$25.69

-59.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₼0.93

$0.94 MX$16.51

-41.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₼3.02

$3.09 MX$54.1

-42.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₼4.92

$4.46 MX$78.0

-34.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ₼1.68

$1.43 MX$24.94

-30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₼0.72

$1.88 MX$32.97

-77.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₼3.71

$1.63 MX$28.50

33.74%

Eggs

$1.40 ₼2.38

$2.64 MX$46.26

-46.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.51 ₼5.97

$8.21 MX$144

-57.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 ₼4.01

$8.29 MX$145

-71.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 ₼14.37

$11.10 MX$194

-23.87%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 ₼1.23

$2.65 MX$46.40

-72.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 ₼2.03

$1.50 MX$26.26

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 ₼1.04

$1.99 MX$34.79

-69.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 ₼1.23

$2.08 MX$36.33

-64.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 ₼0.47

$1.79 MX$31.29

-84.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₼0.68

$2.18 MX$38.09

-81.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₼1.55

$1.08 MX$18.84

-15.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₼1.02

$1.04 MX$18.15

-42.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 ₼2.94

$3.97 MX$69.5

-56.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 ₼15.40

$10.20 MX$179

-11.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₼1.99

$1.73 MX$30.22

-32.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₼3.45

$2.50 MX$43.71

-18.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₼0.33

$0.52 MX$9.07

-61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 ₼0.96

$1.27 MX$22.28

-55.91%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.12 ₼58.0

$51.9 MX$908

-34.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 ₼201

$963 MX$16.9K

-87.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.9 ₼143

$465 MX$8,133

-81.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 ₼396

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-85.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 ₼254

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-87.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Zaqatala: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Zaqatala versus $963 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 $21.00 in Zaqatala versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $134 vs $251 – making Zaqatala 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 258%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $538 per month in Zaqatala and $1,930 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 Zaqatala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Zaqatala and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zaqatala, where all-in costs run around $359, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Zaqatala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zaqatala – 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 Zaqatala. 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.