Cost of Living Comparison Between Khouribga and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Khouribga and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $670 per month in Khouribga vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Khouribga vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,403 per month in Khouribga vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Khouribga is about 47% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Khouribga and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Khouribga 50% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.81 MAD 35.51
$11.72 MX$203
-67.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.93 MAD 223
$41.89 MX$725
-42.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 MAD 44.18
$10.51 MX$182
-54.90%
Cappuccino
$1.23 MAD 11.44
$3.59 MX$62.0
-65.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 MAD 3.69
$1.51 MX$26.10
-73.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 MAD 2.15
$0.92 MX$15.83
-75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.20 MAD 29.84
$2.96 MX$51.2
8.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 MAD 23.37
$4.41 MX$76.3
-43.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 MAD 8.98
$1.40 MX$24.16
-31.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 MAD 4.63
$1.88 MX$32.60
-73.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 MAD 16.79
$1.56 MX$26.97
15.38%
Eggs
$1.74 MAD 16.24
$2.61 MX$45.14
-33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 MAD 93.2
$8.32 MX$144
20.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 MAD 50.0
$8.35 MX$145
-35.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.01 MAD 93.3
$10.86 MX$188
-7.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.91
$2.71 MX$46.93
-49.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 MAD 14.96
$1.51 MX$26.04
5.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.31
$1.87 MX$32.41
-58.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 MAD 9.46
$2.19 MX$37.89
-53.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 MAD 9.42
$1.86 MX$32.14
-45.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.58
$2.23 MX$38.59
-68.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 MAD 3.97
$1.07 MX$18.48
-59.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.46
$1.09 MX$18.79
-45.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11 MAD 38.28
$4.19 MX$72.4
-1.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.00 MAD 74.6
$10.43 MX$180
-23.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MAD 25.19
$1.66 MX$28.68
62.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 MAD 25.53
$2.61 MX$45.19
4.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.29
$0.54 MX$9.37
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.66 MAD 155
$26.16 MX$453
-36.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 MAD 7.27
$3.08 MX$53.3
-74.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MAD 4.85
$2.40 MX$41.61
-78.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.30 MAD 40.08
$3.13 MX$54.1
37.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MAD 14.44
$1.31 MX$22.69
18.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K MAD 350.6K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
26.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K MAD 270.5K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
24.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.33 MAD 451
$81.3 MX$1,406
-40.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.17 MAD 104
$22.56 MX$390
-50.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.36 MAD 330
$30.05 MX$520
17.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.63 MAD 136
$52.9 MX$915
-72.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.07 MAD 215
$18.39 MX$318
25.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MAD 60.3
$4.92 MX$85.1
31.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$96.2 MAD 897
$201 MX$3,474
-52.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,496 MAD 32.6K
$5,175 MX$89.5K
-32.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.15 MAD 141
$35.92 MX$622
-57.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.23 MAD 310
$40.13 MX$694
-17.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 MAD 807
$79.7 MX$1,379
8.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.25 MAD 301
$86.5 MX$1,496
-62.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$280 MAD 2,609
$978 MX$16.9K
-71.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 MAD 1,639
$470 MX$8,140
-62.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$508 MAD 4,738
$1,651 MX$28.6K
-69.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 MAD 2,817
$1,203 MX$20.8K
-74.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,257 MAD 11.7K
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-68.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$896 MAD 8,352
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-86.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khouribga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 MAD 3,245
$677 MX$11.7K
-48.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.78
11.42
-58.14%

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

Last update for Khouribga: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Khouribga versus $978 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.

Salaries run about 94% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Khouribga versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $252 – making Khouribga 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
Khouribga vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Khouribga or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 88% more than Khouribga, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Khouribga and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,005 per month in Khouribga and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Khouribga or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khouribga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Khouribga compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Khouribga. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Khouribga and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $96.2 per month in Khouribga and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Khouribga or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Khouribga, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Khouribga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Khouribga or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khouribga costs $670 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Khouribga compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Khouribga or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Khouribga. 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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