Cost of Living Comparison Between Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $603 per month in Beni Mellal vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $924 per month in Beni Mellal vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Beni Mellal vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Beni Mellal is about 54% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Beni Mellal 55% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.36 MAD 30.92
$11.73 MX$203
-71.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.07 MAD 203
$41.62 MX$721
-46.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.87 MAD 44.83
$10.64 MX$184
-54.23%
Cappuccino
$1.25 MAD 11.55
$3.52 MX$61.0
-64.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 MAD 4.73
$1.51 MX$26.17
-66.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MAD 3.27
$0.97 MX$16.87
-62.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 MAD 28.30
$2.95 MX$51.1
4.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 MAD 22.54
$4.45 MX$77.2
-44.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 MAD 6.99
$1.38 MX$23.97
-44.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 MAD 4.70
$1.89 MX$32.78
-73.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 MAD 13.13
$1.64 MX$28.37
-12.80%
Eggs
$1.44 MAD 13.23
$2.51 MX$43.42
-42.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.52 MAD 78.4
$8.34 MX$145
2.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.77 MAD 62.4
$8.34 MX$145
-18.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.43 MAD 77.7
$10.73 MX$186
-21.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 10.86
$2.60 MX$45.12
-54.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 MAD 10.69
$1.46 MX$25.25
-20.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.63
$1.90 MX$32.94
-62.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 MAD 7.26
$2.08 MX$35.98
-62.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 MAD 4.21
$1.78 MX$30.77
-74.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 MAD 5.97
$2.19 MX$37.87
-70.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 MAD 3.33
$1.04 MX$18.02
-65.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.34
$1.08 MX$18.66
-46.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 MAD 37.44
$4.08 MX$70.7
-0.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 MAD 74.4
$10.32 MX$179
-21.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 MAD 13.06
$1.71 MX$29.67
-16.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 MAD 17.01
$2.58 MX$44.63
-28.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MAD 6.84
$0.51 MX$8.83
45.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.01 MAD 83.0
$26.46 MX$459
-65.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 MAD 4.84
$3.26 MX$56.5
-83.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 MAD 8.12
$2.49 MX$43.17
-64.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 MAD 25.09
$3.25 MX$56.3
-16.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MAD 14.07
$1.31 MX$22.65
16.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K MAD 338.1K
$30.3K MX$524.7K
21.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K MAD 269.8K
$23.4K MX$406.0K
25.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.05 MAD 378
$82.9 MX$1,436
-50.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.88 MAD 100
$22.22 MX$385
-51.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.33 MAD 316
$29.34 MX$508
17.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.67 MAD 172
$51.6 MX$895
-63.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 MAD 152
$18.32 MX$317
-9.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 MAD 61.0
$5.07 MX$87.8
30.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 MAD 1,473
$201 MX$3,480
-20.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,587 MAD 60.6K
$5,212 MX$90.3K
26.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.82 MAD 348
$36.92 MX$640
2.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.42 MAD 317
$39.79 MX$689
-13.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 MAD 700
$78.5 MX$1,360
-3.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 MAD 725
$87.1 MX$1,509
-9.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 MAD 1,590
$973 MX$16.9K
-82.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 MAD 1,079
$468 MX$8,105
-74.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$293 MAD 2,700
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-82.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,587
$1,221 MX$21.2K
-85.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beni Mellal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$664 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.81
11.42
-57.88%

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

Last update for Beni Mellal: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $173 in Beni Mellal versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Beni Mellal versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $249 – making Beni Mellal 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
Beni Mellal vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $603 in Beni Mellal, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 115% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Beni Mellal compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $904 per month in Beni Mellal and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beni Mellal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 194% less in Beni Mellal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $160 per month in Beni Mellal 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 Beni Mellal, where all-in costs run around $603, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Beni Mellal 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 Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $603 in Beni Mellal to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Beni Mellal or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Beni Mellal and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Beni Mellal. 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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