🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,038 in 'ibri versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in 'ibri versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in 'ibri versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in 'ibri costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: 'ibri24% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15OMR 1.98
$11.71MX$198
-56.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.97OMR 13.08
$46.59MX$788
-27.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.58OMR 2.92
$11.65MX$197
-34.94%
Cappuccino
$4.73OMR 1.82
$4.09MX$69.2
15.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90OMR 0.35
$1.37MX$23.23
-34.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29OMR 0.11
$0.83MX$14.09
-65.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.81OMR 4.93
$3.35MX$56.7
282.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.23OMR 5.09
$6.91MX$117
91.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31OMR 0.50
$1.73MX$29.20
-24.28%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76OMR 0.29
$2.26MX$38.21
-66.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33OMR 0.51
$1.77MX$29.91
-24.86%
Eggs
$2.11OMR 0.81
$2.73MX$46.19
-22.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66OMR 2.95
$9.18MX$155
-16.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.08OMR 1.95
$8.92MX$151
-43.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.46OMR 4.03
$12.60MX$213
-16.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64OMR 1.02
$3.02MX$51.1
-12.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93OMR 0.74
$1.57MX$26.55
22.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60OMR 0.62
$2.13MX$35.93
-24.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06OMR 0.41
$2.26MX$38.28
-53.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06OMR 0.41
$2.00MX$33.88
-47.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$2.06MX$34.90
-61.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76OMR 0.29
$1.18MX$19.94
-35.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54OMR 0.21
$1.20MX$20.35
-55.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34OMR 2.44
$4.63MX$78.4
36.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.31OMR 5.89
$10.69MX$181
43.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.71OMR 2.20
$1.62MX$27.38
252.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.90OMR 3.43
$2.88MX$48.70
209.03%
🚌 Getting Around
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.57MX$9.69
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.56OMR 0.99
$5.45MX$92.1
-53.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34OMR 0.51
$3.70MX$62.6
-63.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.71OMR 2.97
$5.98MX$101
28.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62OMR 0.24
$1.55MX$26.26
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9KOMR 9,967
$22.3KMX$377.4K
15.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KOMR 8,611
$25.9KMX$438.7K
-13.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0OMR 30.40
$89.1MX$1,507
-11.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98OMR 11.93
$25.04MX$423
23.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1OMR 26.97
$31.50MX$532
122.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.5OMR 29.45
$67.8MX$1,146
12.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.33OMR 3.98
$5.05MX$85.4
104.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290OMR 112
$225MX$3,803
28.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KOMR 4,040
$4,222MX$71.4K
148.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9OMR 21.90
$47.44MX$802
19.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.50OMR 16.75
$44.98MX$760
-3.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2OMR 34.34
$82.0MX$1,386
8.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.7OMR 36.45
$92.1MX$1,557
2.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$232OMR 89.4
$1,069MX$18.1K
-78.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184OMR 70.7
$405MX$6,852
-54.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476OMR 183
$1,935MX$32.7K
-75.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372OMR 143
$1,301MX$22.0K
-71.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,995MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,626MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,956OMR 1,138
$749MX$12.7K
294.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
11.45
-54.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for 'ibri: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $232 in 'ibri and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰'ibri pays 295% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in 'ibri vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $277 per month, with 'ibri cheaper across the board.
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
'ibri vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in 'ibri and in Playa del Carmen?
'ibri and Playa del Carmen differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,038 vs $1,293 including rent). 'ibri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: 'ibri or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 295% higher in 'ibri, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in 'ibri and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $232 in 'ibri versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: 'ibri or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,038 per month in 'ibri versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,038 in 'ibri versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in 'ibri but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes 'ibri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between 'ibri and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is 'ibri or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, 'ibri and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: 'ibri or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find 'ibri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.