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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $426 per month in Zawiya vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $654 per month in Zawiya vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $881 per month in Zawiya vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

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

Both Zawiya and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zawiya 69% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 LYD 14.53

$11.96 MX$203

-80.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 LYD 94.9

$47.38 MX$804

-68.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.54 LYD 16.00

$11.75 MX$199

-78.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 LYD 3.06

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 LYD 3.90

Cappuccino

$0.42 LYD 2.63

$4.12 MX$70.0

-89.81%

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

$0.42 LYD 2.64

$1.40 MX$23.74

-70.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.09 LYD 0.57

$0.91 MX$15.48

-90.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 LYD 5.72

$1.68 MX$28.44

-45.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.20 LYD 1.26

$2.15 MX$36.48

-90.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 LYD 7.05

$1.77 MX$30.10

-36.72%

Eggs

$1.03 LYD 6.48

$2.82 MX$47.76

-63.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.66 LYD 29.43

$9.20 MX$156

-49.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 LYD 20.97

$9.23 MX$157

-64.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.86 LYD 55.9

$12.64 MX$214

-29.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 LYD 11.70

$2.95 MX$50.1

-37.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 LYD 7.83

$1.58 MX$26.79

-21.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 LYD 4.47

$2.22 MX$37.70

-68.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.32

$2.36 MX$40.09

-77.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.09

$1.99 MX$33.81

-75.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.27 LYD 1.70

$1.98 MX$33.58

-86.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 LYD 1.88

$1.24 MX$21.04

-75.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 LYD 1.13

$1.21 MX$20.55

-85.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.77 LYD 4.89

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 LYD 4.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 LYD 5.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 LYD 10.55

$4.60 MX$78.1

-63.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 LYD 4.84

$0.60 MX$10.22

28.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.03 LYD 246

$29.70 MX$504

31.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 LYD 4.92

$5.24 MX$88.8

-85.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 LYD 3.11

$3.65 MX$61.9

-86.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 LYD 15.16

$5.78 MX$98.1

-58.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.02 LYD 0.13

$1.54 MX$26.09

-98.70%

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

$15.6K LYD 98.8K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

-31.38%

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

$14.0K LYD 88.5K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-45.67%

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

$93.3 LYD 589

$90.7 MX$1,538

2.91%

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

$5.67 LYD 35.81

$25.19 MX$427

-77.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.23 LYD 77.2

$31.75 MX$539

-61.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.20 LYD 109

$68.8 MX$1,167

-75.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 LYD 24.75

$29.37 MX$498

-86.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 LYD 24.32

$4.86 MX$82.5

-20.78%

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

$52.7 LYD 332

$226 MX$3,828

-76.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$628 LYD 3,966

$4,194 MX$71.1K

-85.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.22 LYD 134

$47.38 MX$804

-55.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.59 LYD 111

$43.45 MX$737

-59.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.97 LYD 177

$80.2 MX$1,361

-65.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.76 LYD 200

$91.4 MX$1,550

-65.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.1 LYD 575

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-91.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.2 LYD 367

$409 MX$6,933

-85.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 LYD 1,082

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-91.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 LYD 735

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-90.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$469 LYD 2,960

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-88.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$38.80 LYD 245

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-99.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$255 LYD 1,611

$773 MX$13.1K

-66.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Zawiya: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.1 in Zawiya 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.

Salaries run about 203% 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 $15.00 in Zawiya versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $104 vs $278 – making Zawiya 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 206%, 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 $639 per month in Zawiya and $1,958 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 Zawiya, 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 $426 in Zawiya and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Zawiya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zawiya, where all-in costs run around $426, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Zawiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zawiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zawiya. 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.