🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in 'ibri versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in 'ibri versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,783 in 'ibri versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in 'ibri costs roughly 35% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: 'ibri37% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66OMR 1.02
$11.73MX$203
-77.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59OMR 9.85
$41.62MX$719
-38.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.63OMR 2.55
$10.64MX$184
-37.69%
Cappuccino
$3.11OMR 1.20
$3.52MX$60.8
-11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67OMR 0.26
$1.51MX$26.09
-55.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25OMR 0.10
$0.97MX$16.82
-74.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.32OMR 2.05
$2.95MX$51.0
80.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.50OMR 4.43
$4.45MX$77.0
158.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15OMR 0.44
$1.38MX$23.90
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$1.89MX$32.69
-57.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72OMR 0.66
$1.64MX$28.29
4.88%
Eggs
$2.40OMR 0.93
$2.51MX$43.30
-4.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.83OMR 1.48
$8.34MX$144
-54.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.73OMR 1.44
$8.34MX$144
-55.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.58OMR 3.30
$10.73MX$185
-20.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57OMR 0.99
$2.60MX$45.00
-1.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41OMR 0.54
$1.46MX$25.18
-3.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79OMR 0.69
$1.90MX$32.84
-5.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90OMR 0.34
$2.08MX$35.88
-56.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00OMR 0.39
$1.78MX$30.68
-43.82%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57OMR 0.22
$2.19MX$37.76
-73.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77OMR 0.29
$1.04MX$17.97
-25.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50OMR 0.19
$1.08MX$18.60
-53.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.62OMR 2.16
$4.08MX$70.5
37.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.53OMR 5.98
$10.32MX$178
50.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.26OMR 1.64
$1.71MX$29.59
149.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92OMR 3.05
$2.58MX$44.50
206.98%
🚌 Getting Around
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55OMR 0.98
$3.26MX$56.4
-21.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$2.49MX$43.05
-67.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.30OMR 3.97
$3.25MX$56.1
216.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61OMR 0.24
$1.31MX$22.59
-53.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KOMR 8,879
$30.3KMX$523.2K
-23.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KOMR 8,302
$23.4KMX$404.9K
-7.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.2OMR 30.50
$82.9MX$1,432
-4.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.52OMR 14.83
$22.22MX$384
73.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6OMR 26.80
$29.34MX$507
137.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.4OMR 22.87
$51.6MX$892
15.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01OMR 3.47
$5.07MX$87.5
77.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$193OMR 74.1
$201MX$3,470
-4.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,783OMR 3,766
$5,212MX$90.1K
87.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2OMR 19.71
$36.92MX$638
38.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98OMR 15.01
$39.79MX$688
-2.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6OMR 29.86
$78.5MX$1,356
-1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.8OMR 33.79
$87.1MX$1,505
0.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207OMR 79.7
$973MX$16.8K
-78.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129OMR 49.52
$468MX$8,082
-72.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491OMR 189
$1,641MX$28.4K
-70.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343OMR 132
$1,221MX$21.1K
-71.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
'ibri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,981OMR 1,148
$664MX$11.5K
348.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
11.42
-54.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for 'ibri: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in 'ibri and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰'ibri pays 349% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in 'ibri vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $249 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 Playa del Carmen?
'ibri and Playa del Carmen differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $1,297 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?
'ibri pays 349% more on average, 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 Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $207 in 'ibri versus $973 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 21% 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 $839 per month in 'ibri versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 55% 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 $839 in 'ibri versus $1,297 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 55% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.