Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nouadhibou and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Nouadhibou: $268 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nouadhibou
🇲🇷 Mauritania
$268
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nouadhibou and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nouadhibou and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $268 per month in Nouadhibou vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Nouadhibou $268
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $494 per month in Nouadhibou vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Nouadhibou $494
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $720 per month in Nouadhibou vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Nouadhibou $720
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Nouadhibou is about 78% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nouadhibou and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Nouadhibou 80% lower, Playa del Carmen 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.95 MRU 118
$10.86 MX$201
-72.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.06 MRU 683
$44.21 MX$817
-61.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.92 MRU 237
$11.76 MX$217
-49.66%
Cappuccino
$2.55 MRU 102
$3.68 MX$68.0
-30.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.34 MX$24.79
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.82 MX$15.24
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.06 MX$56.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.94 MX$91.2
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 MRU 49.19
$1.47 MX$27.17
-16.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.35 MRU 14.17
$2.22 MX$40.95
-84.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 MRU 44.42
$1.48 MX$27.32
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.11 MRU 84.6
$2.49 MX$45.99
-15.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.52 MX$139
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.73 MRU 109
$7.96 MX$147
-65.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.30 MRU 252
$12.57 MX$232
-49.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 MRU 71.5
$2.78 MX$51.3
-35.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 MRU 61.2
$1.43 MX$26.37
6.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.10 MRU 43.90
$2.62 MX$48.37
-58.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 MRU 29.45
$2.14 MX$39.49
-65.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MRU 30.63
$2.02 MX$37.38
-62.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 MRU 27.32
$1.99 MX$36.74
-65.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 MRU 26.00
$1.14 MX$21.01
-42.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20 MX$22.18
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 MRU 103
$4.26 MX$78.7
-39.91%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.02 MX$185
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.54 MX$28.41
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.66 MX$49.17
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MRU 14.25
$0.53 MX$9.73
-32.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 MRU 36.19
$4.90 MX$90.6
-81.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.43 MX$63.5
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 MRU 291
$5.38 MX$99.4
35.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 MRU 48.25
$1.45 MX$26.76
-17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K MX$391.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.0K MX$425.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$85.4 MX$1,577
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$23.46 MX$434
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$28.43 MX$525
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$62.2 MX$1,149
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.10 MX$94.3
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$201 MX$3,715
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,947 MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$44.39 MX$820
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.35 MX$764
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$72.7 MX$1,344
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.6 MX$1,656
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$65.6 MRU 2,627
$979 MX$18.1K
-93.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 MRU 4,010
$373 MX$6,887
-73.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 MRU 9,938
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-77.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nouadhibou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$738 MX$13.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.45
-

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

Last update for Nouadhibou: October 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$373
Groceries & Markets
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$258
Eating Out
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$137
Clothing & Footwear
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$112
Sport & Entertainment
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$72
Getting Around
Nouadhibou
–
Playa del Carmen
$52

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $65.6 in Nouadhibou versus $979 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Nouadhibou versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $94.0 vs $258 – making Nouadhibou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇷 Nouadhibou
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
10:52 10:52 AM
05:52 5:52 AM
5 h behind Nouadhibou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,953
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to MRU – Mauritanian Ouguiya Converter

Mauritanian Ouguiya exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 40.06 MRU (100 MRU = 2.5 USD). 1 EUR = 45.04 MRU (100 MRU = 2.22 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nouadhibou Playa del Carmen 7,220 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nouadhibou
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Nouadhibou vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Nouadhibou?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 349%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $402 per month in Nouadhibou and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nouadhibou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nouadhibou and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 176% 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 eating out cheaper in Nouadhibou or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Nouadhibou and $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nouadhibou or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nouadhibou, where all-in costs run around $268, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Nouadhibou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nouadhibou or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nouadhibou – 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 Nouadhibou. 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.

Nouadhibou vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?