Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Al-masna'ah is about 37% 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'ah 40% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32 OMR 2.05
$11.72 MX$204
-54.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.28 OMR 10.12
$41.89 MX$731
-37.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.83 OMR 3.02
$10.51 MX$183
-25.50%
Cappuccino
$4.83 OMR 1.86
$3.59 MX$62.5
34.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 OMR 0.39
$1.51 MX$26.31
-33.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 OMR 0.13
$0.92 MX$15.96
-63.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.19 OMR 4.69
$2.96 MX$51.6
311.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.91 OMR 4.58
$4.41 MX$76.9
170.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 OMR 0.77
$1.40 MX$24.35
42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 OMR 0.47
$1.88 MX$32.87
-34.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 OMR 0.66
$1.56 MX$27.19
10.90%
Eggs
$2.47 OMR 0.95
$2.61 MX$45.50
-5.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.74 OMR 1.44
$8.32 MX$145
-55.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.96 OMR 1.91
$8.35 MX$146
-40.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 OMR 3.33
$10.86 MX$189
-20.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 OMR 1.00
$2.71 MX$47.31
-4.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 OMR 0.64
$1.51 MX$26.25
9.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 OMR 0.71
$1.87 MX$32.67
-1.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 OMR 0.45
$2.19 MX$38.19
-46.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 OMR 0.39
$1.86 MX$32.40
-45.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 OMR 0.38
$2.23 MX$38.90
-56.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 OMR 0.41
$1.07 MX$18.63
0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 OMR 0.21
$1.09 MX$18.94
-49.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46 OMR 2.49
$4.19 MX$73.0
54.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.75 OMR 6.06
$10.43 MX$182
51.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.31 OMR 1.66
$1.66 MX$28.91
159.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.91 OMR 3.05
$2.61 MX$45.56
203.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.54 MX$9.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.16 MX$456
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 OMR 1.22
$3.08 MX$53.7
2.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 OMR 0.29
$2.40 MX$41.94
-68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.28 OMR 3.96
$3.13 MX$54.5
228.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 OMR 0.23
$1.31 MX$22.87
-54.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K OMR 8,747
$29.8K MX$519.9K
-23.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K OMR 8,347
$23.3K MX$406.8K
-7.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 OMR 40.48
$81.3 MX$1,418
29.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.58 OMR 15.62
$22.56 MX$393
79.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.4 OMR 27.10
$30.05 MX$524
134.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.9 MX$923
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.49 OMR 4.04
$4.92 MX$85.8
113.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$192 OMR 73.9
$201 MX$3,502
-4.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,815 OMR 3,779
$5,175 MX$90.2K
89.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.42 OMR 19.03
$35.92 MX$627
37.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.67 OMR 14.89
$40.13 MX$700
-3.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 OMR 30.62
$79.7 MX$1,390
-0.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4 OMR 34.79
$86.5 MX$1,508
4.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$978 MX$17.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$470 MX$8,206
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,651 MX$28.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,203 MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-masna'ah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,952 OMR 1,522
$677 MX$11.8K
484.10%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 484% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $252 – 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 in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $792 in Al-masna'ah, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 59% 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 $1,188 per month in Al-masna'ah and $1,890 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 $792 in Al-masna'ah and $1,260 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 $192 per month in Al-masna'ah and $201 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 $792, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $792 in Al-masna'ah to $1,260 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.

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