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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $824 in Mohammedia versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,304 in Mohammedia versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,784 in Mohammedia versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Mohammedia costs roughly 35% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mohammedia 40% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.08 MAD 48.18
$11.60 MX$200
-56.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.43 MAD 298
$47.11 MX$812
-33.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.27 MAD 68.9
$11.88 MX$205
-38.80%
Cappuccino
$2.13 MAD 20.16
$3.98 MX$68.6
-46.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MAD 8.20
$1.43 MX$24.60
-39.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 MAD 3.84
$0.82 MX$14.22
-51.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.17 MAD 49.07
$3.19 MX$55.0
62.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 MAD 50.2
$6.79 MX$117
-22.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 MAD 10.01
$1.68 MX$28.89
-36.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 MAD 10.87
$2.20 MX$37.88
-47.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MAD 18.09
$1.71 MX$29.45
11.70%
Eggs
$1.91 MAD 18.07
$2.74 MX$47.26
-30.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 MAD 110
$9.58 MX$165
21.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.38 MAD 70.0
$9.01 MX$155
-18.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.34 MAD 117
$12.81 MX$221
-3.67%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 MAD 14.80
$2.89 MX$49.81
-46.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 MAD 13.96
$1.50 MX$25.81
-2.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.37
$2.15 MX$37.03
-63.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 7.80
$2.26 MX$38.96
-63.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.40
$1.98 MX$34.15
-65.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.25
$1.99 MX$34.30
-61.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 MAD 4.75
$1.23 MX$21.28
-59.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.76
$1.20 MX$20.63
-49.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 MAD 40.70
$4.55 MX$78.5
-5.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 MAD 83.1
$10.37 MX$179
-15.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 MAD 25.53
$1.62 MX$27.91
66.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 MAD 25.85
$2.88 MX$49.67
-5.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MAD 7.34
$0.60 MX$10.35
28.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.82 MAD 226
$28.80 MX$497
-17.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 MAD 6.84
$5.39 MX$92.9
-86.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 MAD 7.24
$3.73 MX$64.3
-79.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MAD 45.13
$5.77 MX$99.5
-17.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MAD 14.25
$1.54 MX$26.48
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K MAD 335.7K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
57.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K MAD 291.8K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
18.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.84 MAD 463
$91.4 MX$1,576
-46.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.67 MAD 101
$25.20 MX$435
-57.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.83 MAD 378
$31.24 MX$539
27.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.46 MAD 279
$67.2 MX$1,159
-56.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.69 MAD 206
$29.11 MX$502
-25.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.54 MAD 71.5
$4.86 MX$83.8
55.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 MAD 1,438
$224 MX$3,856
-32.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,592 MAD 53.0K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
32.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 MAD 557
$47.10 MX$812
24.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 MAD 487
$44.29 MX$764
15.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MAD 978
$80.1 MX$1,381
28.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 MAD 818
$92.7 MX$1,598
-6.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 MAD 2,628
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-73.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,632
$390 MX$6,728
-55.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 MAD 4,516
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-77.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 MAD 2,592
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-78.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,574 MAD 14.9K
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-60.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,055 MAD 10.0K
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-83.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 MAD 5,489
$758 MX$13.1K
-23.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.67
11.45
-67.95%

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

Last update for Mohammedia: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Mohammedia and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Mohammedia vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $276 per month, with Mohammedia cheaper across the board.

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
Mohammedia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mohammedia and in Playa del Carmen?
Mohammedia and Playa del Carmen differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($824 vs $1,266 including rent). Mohammedia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mohammedia and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Mohammedia versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mohammedia – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $824 in Mohammedia versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mohammedia but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Mohammedia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mohammedia and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mohammedia or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mohammedia 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.
Where should expats move: Mohammedia or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Mohammedia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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