🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $816 in Mohammedia versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,384 in Mohammedia versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,952 in Mohammedia versus $2,990 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: Mohammedia39% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35MAD 40.59
$11.72MX$203
-62.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.74MAD 277
$41.89MX$725
-29.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31MAD 68.2
$10.51MX$182
-30.45%
Cappuccino
$1.89MAD 17.59
$3.59MX$62.0
-47.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71MAD 6.64
$1.51MX$26.10
-52.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MAD 3.54
$0.92MX$15.83
-58.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90MAD 36.35
$2.96MX$51.2
31.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MAD 42.05
$4.41MX$76.3
2.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99MAD 9.20
$1.40MX$24.16
-29.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87MAD 8.07
$1.88MX$32.60
-53.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01MAD 18.72
$1.56MX$26.97
28.85%
Eggs
$2.19MAD 20.42
$2.61MX$45.14
-16.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.44MAD 107
$8.32MX$144
37.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13MAD 66.5
$8.35MX$145
-14.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.77MAD 110
$10.86MX$188
8.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56MAD 14.57
$2.71MX$46.93
-42.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MAD 13.33
$1.51MX$26.04
-5.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.30
$1.87MX$32.41
-58.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.83MAD 7.70
$2.19MX$37.89
-62.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.72
$1.86MX$32.14
-61.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75MAD 7.02
$2.23MX$38.59
-66.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50MAD 4.68
$1.07MX$18.48
-53.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.73
$1.09MX$18.79
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41MAD 41.07
$4.19MX$72.4
5.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.53MAD 79.5
$10.43MX$180
-18.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90MAD 27.06
$1.66MX$28.68
74.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31MAD 30.82
$2.61MX$45.19
26.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67MAD 6.29
$0.54MX$9.37
24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.68MAD 156
$26.16MX$453
-36.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80MAD 7.50
$3.08MX$53.3
-74.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MAD 5.40
$2.40MX$41.61
-75.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MAD 50.6
$3.13MX$54.1
73.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MAD 14.36
$1.31MX$22.69
17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KMAD 346.6K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
24.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMAD 250.3K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
15.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.5MAD 471
$81.3MX$1,406
-37.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.14MAD 104
$22.56MX$390
-50.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.26MAD 375
$30.05MX$520
33.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.91MAD 251
$52.9MX$915
-49.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.36MAD 218
$18.39MX$318
27.03%
Cinema Ticket
$8.83MAD 82.4
$4.92MX$85.1
79.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154MAD 1,435
$201MX$3,474
-23.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,487MAD 51.2K
$5,175MX$89.5K
6.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0MAD 485
$35.92MX$622
44.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0MAD 494
$40.13MX$694
32.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MAD 1,032
$79.7MX$1,379
38.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5MAD 825
$86.5MX$1,496
2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272MAD 2,533
$978MX$16.9K
-72.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,600
$470MX$8,140
-63.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512MAD 4,773
$1,651MX$28.6K
-69.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511MAD 4,769
$1,203MX$20.8K
-57.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,637MAD 15.3K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-58.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,030MAD 9,599
$6,607MX$114.3K
-84.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$577MAD 5,384
$677MX$11.7K
-14.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
11.42
-61.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mohammedia: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $272 in Mohammedia and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 17% 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: $30.00 in Mohammedia vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $252 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 55% in total monthly costs ($816 vs $1,260 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 17% 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: $272 in Mohammedia versus $978 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 17% 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 $30.00 versus $42.00 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 $816 in Mohammedia versus $1,260 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 55% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mohammedia vs other spots: cost of living compared