Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $473 in Al Ghubra versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $591 in Al Ghubra versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 72% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Ghubra 73% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.88 MX$15.41

-71.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.43 MX$24.94

28.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$1.57 MX$27.31

35.67%

Eggs

$5.10 OMR 1.96

$2.51 MX$43.74

103.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$2.61 MX$45.43

-19.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$1.44 MX$25.04

29.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$1.96 MX$34.16

-6.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$2.09 MX$36.47

-39.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$1.85 MX$32.24

-66.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 OMR 0.26

$2.17 MX$37.74

-68.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.07 MX$18.70

-49.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

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

$113 OMR 43.33

$82.0 MX$1,428

37.31%

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

$22.95 MX$400

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.8 OMR 33.01

$30.11 MX$524

184.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.51 OMR 16.74

$52.0 MX$905

-16.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.04 OMR 14.25

$18.53 MX$323

99.89%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 OMR 3.42

$4.98 MX$86.6

78.31%

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

$182 OMR 69.9

$197 MX$3,438

-8.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,037

$5,336 MX$92.9K

96.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,096 OMR 1,191

$654 MX$11.4K

373.41%

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 Al Ghubra: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 373% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

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

Al Ghubra and Playa del Carmen differ by about 254% in total monthly costs ($355 vs $1,256 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 373% higher in Al Ghubra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $182 in Al Ghubra versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $355 per month in Al Ghubra versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 254% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Al Ghubra 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.

Expats usually find Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 254% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.