Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $934 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 28% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ar-rustaq and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq 32% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

$11.96 MX$202

-55.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.12 OMR 13.13

$47.38 MX$800

-27.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

$11.75 MX$198

-35.23%

Cappuccino

$4.88 OMR 1.88

$4.12 MX$69.6

18.45%

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$1.40 MX$23.63

-39.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.91 MX$15.40

-68.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.01 OMR 5.01

$3.21 MX$54.1

305.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

$7.07 MX$119

85.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.68 MX$28.31

35.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$2.15 MX$36.31

-40.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$1.77 MX$29.96

3.39%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

$2.82 MX$47.54

1.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 OMR 2.88

$9.20 MX$155

-18.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 OMR 2.58

$9.23 MX$156

-27.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$12.64 MX$213

-16.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 OMR 1.35

$2.95 MX$49.83

18.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.58 MX$26.66

26.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.22 MX$37.53

9.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$2.36 MX$39.90

-49.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.99 MX$33.65

-39.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.98 MX$33.42

-37.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.24 MX$20.94

49.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$1.21 MX$20.46

-48.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

$4.60 MX$77.7

37.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 OMR 5.98

$10.52 MX$178

47.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$1.69 MX$28.56

221.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$2.77 MX$46.84

225.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.17

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$502

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$5.24 MX$88.4

-39.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

$3.65 MX$61.6

-26.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$5.78 MX$97.7

38.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$1.54 MX$25.97

-60.39%

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

$25.2K OMR 9,695

$22.8K MX$385.0K

10.44%

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

$22.4K OMR 8,606

$25.8K MX$435.8K

-13.40%

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

$174 OMR 66.9

$90.7 MX$1,531

91.57%

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

$30.45 OMR 11.72

$25.19 MX$425

20.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.60

$31.75 MX$536

117.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,162

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$496

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$4.86 MX$82.1

113.37%

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

$288 OMR 111

$226 MX$3,811

27.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,064

$4,194 MX$70.8K

151.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

$47.38 MX$800

17.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 OMR 16.70

$43.45 MX$734

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 OMR 34.47

$80.2 MX$1,355

11.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.44

$91.4 MX$1,543

6.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,900

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,389 OMR 1,690

$773 MX$13.1K

467.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

11.45

-54.15%

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

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 468% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $284 in Ar-rustaq vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Ar-rustaq and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $934 in Ar-rustaq and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Ar-rustaq and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.