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: $787 in Mohammedia versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Mohammedia versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,940 in Mohammedia versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Mohammedia costs roughly 39% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mohammedia 41% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.50 MAD 41.66
$11.94 MX$208
-62.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.94 MAD 277
$42.75 MX$744
-29.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 MAD 67.7
$10.59 MX$184
-30.88%
Cappuccino
$1.90 MAD 17.53
$3.62 MX$63.0
-47.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MAD 6.15
$1.47 MX$25.54
-55.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MAD 3.30
$0.94 MX$16.41
-61.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.77 MAD 34.87
$3.09 MX$53.8
22.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 MAD 40.02
$4.46 MX$77.6
-2.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 MAD 8.45
$1.43 MX$24.80
-36.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 MAD 7.64
$1.88 MX$32.79
-55.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 MAD 17.82
$1.63 MX$28.34
18.40%
Eggs
$2.24 MAD 20.75
$2.64 MX$45.99
-15.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.40 MAD 105
$8.21 MX$143
38.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.06 MAD 65.3
$8.29 MX$144
-14.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.71 MAD 108
$11.10 MX$193
5.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 MAD 15.04
$2.65 MX$46.14
-38.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MAD 13.11
$1.50 MX$26.11
-5.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.23
$1.99 MX$34.59
-60.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 7.70
$2.08 MX$36.13
-60.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.25
$1.79 MX$31.11
-56.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.86
$2.18 MX$37.87
-66.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 MAD 4.69
$1.08 MX$18.73
-52.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.95
$1.04 MX$18.04
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 MAD 40.05
$3.97 MX$69.1
9.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 MAD 77.0
$10.20 MX$178
-18.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 MAD 25.78
$1.73 MX$30.04
61.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 MAD 30.14
$2.50 MX$43.46
30.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.64 MAD 5.90
$0.52 MX$9.02
23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.62 MAD 154
$26.97 MX$469
-38.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 MAD 6.87
$3.14 MX$54.7
-76.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MAD 5.36
$2.40 MX$41.80
-75.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MAD 49.84
$3.09 MX$53.7
74.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MAD 14.29
$1.27 MX$22.16
22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K MAD 350.9K
$30.9K MX$537.3K
22.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MAD 247.9K
$23.3K MX$405.7K
14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.6 MAD 468
$82.0 MX$1,427
-38.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.19 MAD 103
$22.45 MX$391
-50.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.85 MAD 369
$29.66 MX$516
34.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.93 MAD 258
$51.9 MX$903
-46.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.67 MAD 219
$18.67 MX$325
26.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.67 MAD 80.2
$4.97 MX$86.5
74.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 MAD 1,410
$198 MX$3,442
-22.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,402 MAD 50.0K
$5,273 MX$91.7K
2.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 MAD 468
$36.34 MX$632
39.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.4 MAD 494
$40.05 MX$697
33.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MAD 1,033
$79.9 MX$1,390
39.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8 MAD 821
$88.9 MX$1,547
-0.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$273 MAD 2,521
$963 MX$16.8K
-71.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 MAD 1,578
$465 MX$8,086
-63.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$502 MAD 4,647
$1,596 MX$27.8K
-68.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 MAD 4,884
$1,209 MX$21.0K
-56.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,631 MAD 15.1K
$3,942 MX$68.6K
-58.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,034 MAD 9,561
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-83.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mohammedia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$587 MAD 5,430
$720 MX$12.5K
-18.52%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $273 in Mohammedia and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 23% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $251 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 Playa del Carmen?
Mohammedia and Playa del Carmen differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $1,287 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, Playa del Carmen earns 23% less. 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 Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $273 in Mohammedia versus $963 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 18% 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 $43.00 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 $787 in Mohammedia versus $1,287 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 63% 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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