🙂A single person spends $818 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,219 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,619 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Al-masna'ah is about 36% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah39% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09OMR 1.95
$11.94MX$208
-57.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.23OMR 10.07
$42.75MX$744
-38.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.59OMR 2.92
$10.59MX$184
-28.33%
Cappuccino
$4.95OMR 1.90
$3.62MX$63.0
36.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06OMR 0.41
$1.47MX$25.54
-27.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32OMR 0.12
$0.94MX$16.41
-65.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.52OMR 4.81
$3.09MX$53.8
305.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.83OMR 4.54
$4.46MX$77.6
165.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91OMR 0.73
$1.43MX$24.80
33.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18OMR 0.45
$1.88MX$32.79
-37.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71OMR 0.66
$1.63MX$28.34
4.91%
Eggs
$2.39OMR 0.92
$2.64MX$45.99
-9.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.81OMR 1.46
$8.21MX$143
-53.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.12OMR 1.97
$8.29MX$144
-38.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.66OMR 3.33
$11.10MX$193
-21.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57OMR 0.99
$2.65MX$46.14
-3.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67OMR 0.64
$1.50MX$26.11
11.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76OMR 0.67
$1.99MX$34.59
-11.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14OMR 0.44
$2.08MX$36.13
-45.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99OMR 0.38
$1.79MX$31.11
-44.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03OMR 0.39
$2.18MX$37.87
-52.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04OMR 0.40
$1.08MX$18.73
-3.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56OMR 0.21
$1.04MX$18.04
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.45OMR 2.48
$3.97MX$69.1
62.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.42OMR 5.92
$10.20MX$178
51.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.33OMR 1.66
$1.73MX$30.04
150.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58OMR 2.91
$2.50MX$43.46
203.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09OMR 1.19
$3.14MX$54.7
-1.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81OMR 0.31
$2.40MX$41.80
-66.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.28OMR 3.95
$3.09MX$53.7
232.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64OMR 0.25
$1.27MX$22.16
-49.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KOMR 8,634
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-27.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KOMR 8,434
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-5.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109OMR 41.69
$82.0MX$1,427
32.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.99OMR 16.12
$22.45MX$391
87.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2OMR 26.94
$29.66MX$516
136.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$903
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.59OMR 4.07
$4.97MX$86.5
113.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$190OMR 73.1
$198MX$3,442
-3.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,774OMR 3,753
$5,273MX$91.7K
85.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1OMR 19.25
$36.34MX$632
37.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.12OMR 15.02
$40.05MX$697
-2.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1OMR 30.38
$79.9MX$1,390
-0.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9OMR 34.14
$88.9MX$1,547
0.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$963MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,049OMR 1,555
$720MX$12.5K
462.04%
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 Al-masna'ah: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 462% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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 $26.00 in Al-masna'ah versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $251 – making Al-masna'ah 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
Al-masna'ah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $818 in Al-masna'ah, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 57% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Al-masna'ah compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Al-masna'ah and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Al-masna'ah or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $818 in Al-masna'ah and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Al-masna'ah and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $818, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $818 in Al-masna'ah to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Al-masna'ah. 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.
Al-masna'ah vs other spots: cost of living compared