šA single person spends $377 per month in Mansoura vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
šA couple spends around $612 per month in Mansoura vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
šA family of three spends $847 per month in Mansoura vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
šMansoura is about 71% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šBoth Mansoura and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median ā Mansoura72% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65EĀ£193
$11.94MX$208
-69.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.00EĀ£740
$42.75MX$744
-67.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.03EĀ£213
$10.59MX$184
-61.95%
Cappuccino
$0.89EĀ£46.81
$3.62MX$63.0
-75.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29EĀ£15.27
$1.47MX$25.54
-80.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12EĀ£6.12
$0.94MX$16.41
-87.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17EĀ£61.9
$3.09MX$53.8
-62.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95EĀ£156
$4.46MX$77.6
-33.86%
š Groceries & Markets
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81EĀ£42.84
$1.43MX$24.80
-43.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.31EĀ£16.63
$1.88MX$32.79
-83.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.58EĀ£30.64
$1.63MX$28.34
-64.42%
Eggs
$1.39EĀ£73.5
$2.64MX$45.99
-47.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.53EĀ£134
$8.21MX$143
-69.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20EĀ£222
$8.29MX$144
-49.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.46EĀ£394
$11.10MX$193
-32.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31EĀ£69.1
$2.65MX$46.14
-50.57%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58EĀ£30.81
$1.50MX$26.11
-61.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.42EĀ£22.26
$1.99MX$34.59
-78.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.25EĀ£13.17
$2.08MX$36.13
-87.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35EĀ£18.56
$1.79MX$31.11
-80.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40EĀ£21.24
$2.18MX$37.87
-81.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24EĀ£12.70
$1.08MX$18.73
-77.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19EĀ£10.26
$1.04MX$18.04
-81.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92EĀ£101
$3.97MX$69.1
-51.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.65EĀ£246
$10.20MX$178
-54.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40EĀ£74.0
$1.73MX$30.04
-19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70EĀ£143
$2.50MX$43.46
8.00%
š Getting Around
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.08EĀ£3.97
$0.52MX$9.02
-84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41EĀ£21.82
$3.14MX$54.7
-86.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38EĀ£20.25
$2.40MX$41.80
-84.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.95EĀ£49.95
$3.09MX$53.7
-69.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.30EĀ£15.83
$1.27MX$22.16
-76.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KEĀ£1.9M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
16.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KEĀ£1.7M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
39.56%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.32EĀ£598
$82.0MX$1,427
-86.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.61EĀ£296
$22.45MX$391
-75.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.00EĀ£529
$29.66MX$516
-66.28%
š Sport & Entertainment
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.43EĀ£498
$51.9MX$903
-81.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.87EĀ£152
$18.67MX$325
-84.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90EĀ£153
$4.97MX$86.5
-41.65%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$33.39EĀ£1,764
$198MX$3,442
-83.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,834EĀ£96.9K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-65.22%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.11EĀ£957
$36.34MX$632
-50.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.55EĀ£2,301
$40.05MX$697
8.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111EĀ£5,852
$79.9MX$1,390
38.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2EĀ£2,650
$88.9MX$1,547
-43.56%
š Accommodation & Living
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$112EĀ£5,927
$963MX$16.8K
-88.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$58.0EĀ£3,066
$465MX$8,086
-87.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$287EĀ£15.2K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-82.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$103EĀ£5,461
$1,209MX$21.0K
-91.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,404EĀ£74.2K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-64.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$401EĀ£21.2K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-93.79%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Mansoura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$96.3EĀ£5,089
$720MX$12.5K
-86.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
11.42
48.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mansoura: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $112 in Mansoura versus $963 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.
š°Salaries run about 648% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mansoura versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $251 ā making Mansoura 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
Mansoura vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Mansoura?
Yes ā Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 241%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $566 per month in Mansoura and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mansoura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mansoura or Playa del Carmen?
How do food prices compare in Mansoura and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 128% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mansoura or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mansoura, where all-in costs run around $377, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Mansoura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mansoura or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mansoura ā lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mansoura. 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.