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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Marrakech vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,365 per month in Marrakech vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,842 per month in Marrakech vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Marrakech is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Marrakech and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 MAD 42.55

$11.99 MX$210

-61.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.35 MAD 311

$41.78 MX$731

-20.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 MAD 67.3

$10.75 MX$188

-32.84%

Cappuccino

$2.50 MAD 23.30

$3.50 MX$61.1

-28.57%

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

$1.23 MAD 11.44

$1.45 MX$25.33

-15.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.53

$0.88 MX$15.47

-32.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.44 MAD 50.7

$2.95 MX$51.6

84.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 MAD 60.4

$4.51 MX$78.9

43.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 MAD 8.35

$1.43 MX$25.04

-37.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MAD 5.46

$1.84 MX$32.13

-67.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.57 MX$27.42

15.92%

Eggs

$2.03 MAD 18.92

$2.51 MX$43.92

-19.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 MAD 89.0

$8.28 MX$145

15.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 MAD 58.6

$8.43 MX$147

-25.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 MAD 104

$10.68 MX$187

4.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MAD 14.16

$2.61 MX$45.62

-41.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MAD 13.01

$1.44 MX$25.15

-3.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 MAD 9.01

$1.96 MX$34.31

-50.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 MAD 7.64

$2.09 MX$36.62

-60.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MAD 7.31

$1.85 MX$32.37

-57.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.44

$2.17 MX$37.90

-63.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.96

$1.03 MX$18.04

-59.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MAD 5.90

$1.07 MX$18.78

-41.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MAD 39.86

$4.10 MX$71.7

4.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 MAD 74.6

$10.17 MX$178

-21.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MAD 24.67

$1.68 MX$29.29

57.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 MAD 28.44

$2.53 MX$44.17

20.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MAD 4.20

$0.51 MX$8.90

-11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.79 MAD 101

$26.04 MX$455

-58.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MAD 9.02

$3.23 MX$56.5

-69.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$2.41 MX$42.06

-80.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 MAD 50.2

$3.23 MX$56.5

66.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MAD 14.14

$1.32 MX$23.10

15.15%

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

$37.8K MAD 352.1K

$29.7K MX$519.2K

27.14%

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

$30.2K MAD 281.7K

$23.7K MX$413.7K

27.68%

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

$32.73 MAD 305

$82.0 MX$1,434

-60.09%

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

$10.96 MAD 102

$22.95 MX$401

-52.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.56 MAD 434

$30.11 MX$527

54.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.04 MAD 224

$52.0 MX$909

-53.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.63 MAD 295

$18.53 MX$324

70.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 MAD 60.3

$4.98 MX$87.0

29.92%

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

$111 MAD 1,030

$197 MX$3,452

-44.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,450 MAD 60.1K

$5,336 MX$93.3K

20.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.93 MAD 400

$35.60 MX$622

20.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 MAD 468

$40.33 MX$705

24.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MAD 995

$78.8 MX$1,377

35.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 MAD 970

$88.9 MX$1,555

16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 MAD 4,093

$947 MX$16.6K

-53.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 MAD 2,571

$474 MX$8,288

-41.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 MAD 7,041

$1,644 MX$28.7K

-54.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MAD 4,111

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-63.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 MAD 18.5K

$4,056 MX$70.9K

-51.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$952 MAD 8,876

$6,470 MX$113.1K

-85.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$521 MAD 4,857

$654 MX$11.4K

-20.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

11.42

-58.41%

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

Last update for Marrakech: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Marrakech versus $947 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 26% 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 $33.00 in Marrakech versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $249 – making Marrakech 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,332 per month in Marrakech and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marrakech, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Marrakech and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Marrakech – 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 Marrakech. 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.