πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $97.8 in Duqm versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $150 in Duqm versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $201 in Duqm versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Duqm costs roughly 92% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Duqm93% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.99OMRΒ 0.77
$11.87MX$204
-83.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.90MX$736
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.65MX$183
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.45MX$59.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54OMRΒ 0.21
$1.50MX$25.81
-64.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50OMRΒ 0.19
$0.95MX$16.28
-47.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03MX$51.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61MX$79.1
-
π Groceries & Markets
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.38MX$23.61
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.85MX$31.70
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.61MX$27.65
-
Eggs
-
$2.59MX$44.51
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.26MX$142
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.37MX$144
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.66MX$183
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.63MX$45.12
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.49MX$25.53
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.92MX$32.94
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.09MX$35.81
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.86MX$31.88
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.26MX$38.81
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06MX$18.23
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09MX$18.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15MX$71.2
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.39MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72MX$29.59
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$44.85
-
π Getting Around
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.13MX$53.7
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.51MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.27MX$21.88
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.0MX$1,425
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.71MX$390
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46MX$506
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.5OMRΒ 29.82
$51.0MX$875
51.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.93MX$84.5
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$313OMRΒ 120
$197MX$3,386
58.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.90MX$633
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89MX$685
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.0MX$1,373
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5MX$1,536
-
π Accommodation & Living
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$956MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$477MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,646MX$28.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,225MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Duqm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duqm: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
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
Duqm vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Duqm?
Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 1199% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $147 in Duqm and $1,906 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $313 in Duqm versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
What are total monthly expenses in Duqm vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $97.8 per month in Duqm versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen β a 1199% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Duqm or Playa del Carmen?
At $97.8 in Duqm versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Duqm but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Duqm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Duqm or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Duqm 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.
Which city is safer, Duqm or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Duqm and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Duqm gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1199% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.