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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 41% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 IQD 5,331

$11.73 MX$203

-65.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

$41.62 MX$721

-40.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,087

$10.64 MX$184

-34.77%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$3.52 MX$61.0

-26.99%

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

$0.39 IQD 516

$1.51 MX$26.17

-74.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 216

$0.97 MX$16.87

-83.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,743

$2.95 MX$51.1

-3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 IQD 3,870

$4.45 MX$77.2

-33.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,736

$1.38 MX$23.97

-3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 IQD 1,112

$1.89 MX$32.78

-55.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.64 MX$28.37

-4.27%

Eggs

$1.78 IQD 2,329

$2.51 MX$43.42

-29.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,741

$8.34 MX$145

-47.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 IQD 6,192

$8.34 MX$145

-43.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

$10.73 MX$186

21.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,577

$2.60 MX$45.12

-53.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,500

$1.46 MX$25.25

-21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,383

$1.90 MX$32.94

-44.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$2.08 MX$35.98

-66.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$1.78 MX$30.77

-60.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$2.19 MX$37.87

-71.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$1.04 MX$18.02

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$1.08 MX$18.66

-49.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,546

$4.08 MX$70.7

-52.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

$10.32 MX$179

27.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,414

$1.71 MX$29.67

7.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,806

$2.58 MX$44.63

-17.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.51 MX$8.83

-27.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

$26.46 MX$459

19.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,070

$3.26 MX$56.5

-28.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,935

$2.49 MX$43.17

-40.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 IQD 8,044

$3.25 MX$56.3

88.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$1.31 MX$22.65

-58.78%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$30.3K MX$524.7K

-38.05%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$23.4K MX$406.0K

-14.77%

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

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

$82.9 MX$1,436

-7.22%

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

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

$22.22 MX$385

-21.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

$29.34 MX$508

18.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

$51.6 MX$895

-28.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$18.32 MX$317

-9.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

$5.07 MX$87.8

50.69%

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

$150 IQD 196.0K

$201 MX$3,480

-25.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

$5,212 MX$90.3K

-38.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

$36.92 MX$640

-25.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

$39.79 MX$689

-35.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

$78.5 MX$1,360

-20.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$87.1 MX$1,509

-53.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 319.4K

$973 MX$16.9K

-74.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.0K

$468 MX$8,105

-62.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.9K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-65.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.5K

$1,221 MX$21.2K

-71.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

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-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Al-Rumaitha and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $249 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Al-Rumaitha versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.