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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $605 per month in Al Mafraq vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,044 per month in Al Mafraq vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,483 per month in Al Mafraq vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Al Mafraq is about 53% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al Mafraq and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Al Mafraq 55% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.30 JOD 3.04

$11.73 MX$203

-63.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.74 JOD 34.49

$41.62 MX$720

17.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 JOD 2.91

$10.64 MX$184

-61.37%

Cappuccino

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$3.52 MX$60.9

-60.23%

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

$0.34 JOD 0.24

$1.51 MX$26.12

-77.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 JOD 0.26

$0.97 MX$16.84

-62.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.60 JOD 3.96

$2.95 MX$51.0

89.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 JOD 5.09

$4.45 MX$77.0

61.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 JOD 0.76

$1.38 MX$23.93

-21.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 JOD 0.19

$1.89 MX$32.72

-85.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 JOD 0.78

$1.64 MX$28.32

-32.93%

Eggs

$1.28 JOD 0.90

$2.51 MX$43.34

-49.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.60 JOD 3.96

$8.34 MX$144

-32.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 JOD 2.44

$8.34 MX$144

-58.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.87 JOD 3.45

$10.73 MX$186

-54.61%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

$2.60 MX$45.04

-73.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 JOD 0.62

$1.46 MX$25.20

-39.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.98

$1.90 MX$32.87

-26.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.34 JOD 0.24

$2.08 MX$35.91

-83.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 JOD 0.59

$1.78 MX$30.71

-52.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 JOD 0.41

$2.19 MX$37.80

-73.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 JOD 0.47

$1.04 MX$17.99

-36.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 JOD 0.31

$1.08 MX$18.62

-60.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.37 JOD 2.39

$4.08 MX$70.6

-17.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.06 JOD 14.90

$10.32 MX$178

104.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.63 JOD 3.28

$1.71 MX$29.61

170.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 JOD 3.74

$2.58 MX$44.54

105.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 JOD 0.24

$0.51 MX$8.81

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 JOD 0.49

$3.26 MX$56.4

-78.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 JOD 1.01

$2.49 MX$43.09

-42.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.07 JOD 5.00

$3.25 MX$56.2

117.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 JOD 1.03

$1.31 MX$22.61

10.69%

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

$27.7K JOD 19.6K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-8.58%

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

$32.2K JOD 22.8K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

37.23%

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

$105 JOD 74.0

$82.9 MX$1,433

26.21%

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

$16.88 JOD 11.94

$22.22 MX$384

-24.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 JOD 19.76

$29.34 MX$507

-4.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.53 JOD 20.19

$51.6 MX$893

-44.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 JOD 8.11

$5.07 MX$87.6

126.04%

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

$69.2 JOD 48.98

$201 MX$3,473

-65.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,488 JOD 3,884

$5,212 MX$90.1K

5.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.22 JOD 19.97

$36.92 MX$639

-23.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.03 JOD 34.70

$39.79 MX$688

23.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 JOD 80.2

$78.5 MX$1,357

44.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.77 JOD 29.56

$87.1 MX$1,506

-52.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$70.0 JOD 49.55

$973 MX$16.8K

-92.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 JOD 196

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-83.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 JOD 102

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-88.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 JOD 741

$664 MX$11.5K

57.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.27

11.42

-36.34%

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

Last update for Al Mafraq: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $70.0 in Al Mafraq versus $973 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 58% higher in Al Mafraq, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Al Mafraq versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $175 in Al Mafraq vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Al Mafraq wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 114%, 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 $908 per month in Al Mafraq and $1,945 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 Al Mafraq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Al Mafraq and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Al Mafraq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Mafraq – 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 Al Mafraq. 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.