Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-mawsil and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $721 in Al-mawsil versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Al-mawsil versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,429 in Al-mawsil versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Al-mawsil costs roughly 43% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-mawsil 46% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$11.99 MX$210

-35.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

$41.78 MX$733

-70.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 IQD 7,645

$10.75 MX$189

-45.67%

Cappuccino

$0.81 IQD 1,055

$3.50 MX$61.3

-76.86%

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

$0.40 IQD 517

$1.45 MX$25.41

-72.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 IQD 224

$0.88 MX$15.52

-80.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 IQD 1,225

$2.95 MX$51.7

-68.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 IQD 1,960

$4.51 MX$79.1

-66.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$1.43 MX$25.12

-40.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,049

$1.84 MX$32.23

-56.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,391

$1.57 MX$27.51

-32.48%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,515

$2.51 MX$44.06

-23.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 IQD 9,548

$8.28 MX$145

-11.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 IQD 4,242

$8.43 MX$148

-61.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,229

$10.68 MX$187

-33.99%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,195

$2.61 MX$45.76

-65.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,192

$1.44 MX$25.22

-36.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,061

$1.96 MX$34.41

-58.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 517

$2.09 MX$36.74

-81.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 IQD 538

$1.85 MX$32.47

-77.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 IQD 562

$2.17 MX$38.02

-80.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 IQD 669

$1.03 MX$18.09

-50.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 IQD 700

$1.07 MX$18.84

-50.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,553

$4.10 MX$72.0

-52.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

$10.17 MX$178

20.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 IQD 1,825

$1.68 MX$29.38

-17.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

$2.53 MX$44.31

-23.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.51 MX$8.93

-21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.67 IQD 41.5K

$26.04 MX$457

21.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 IQD 2,839

$3.23 MX$56.7

-32.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 IQD 2,591

$2.41 MX$42.19

-17.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 IQD 4,298

$3.23 MX$56.6

1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 432

$1.32 MX$23.17

-75.00%

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

$15.1K IQD 19.7M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-49.27%

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

$17.7K IQD 23.1M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-25.35%

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

$99.4 IQD 130.2K

$82.0 MX$1,439

21.22%

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

$17.52 IQD 22.9K

$22.95 MX$403

-23.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.27 IQD 35.7K

$30.11 MX$528

-9.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.23 IQD 31.7K

$52.0 MX$912

-53.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 IQD 24.7K

$18.53 MX$325

1.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

$4.98 MX$87.3

126.51%

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

$202 IQD 264.4K

$197 MX$3,463

2.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$694 IQD 909.2K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-86.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.87 IQD 18.2K

$35.60 MX$624

-61.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.89 IQD 23.4K

$40.33 MX$707

-55.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 IQD 108.6K

$78.8 MX$1,381

5.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.54 IQD 25.6K

$88.9 MX$1,560

-78.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 316.7K

$947 MX$16.6K

-74.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.4K

$474 MX$8,314

-62.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 IQD 748.7K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-65.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 443.7K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-72.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 IQD 795.8K

$654 MX$11.5K

-7.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

11.42

-50.35%

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

Last update for Al-mawsil: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Al-mawsil and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Al-mawsil vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $249 per month, with Al-mawsil 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

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

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Al-mawsil versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $202 in Al-mawsil versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $721 in Al-mawsil versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-mawsil but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Al-mawsil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al-mawsil is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Al-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.