😐A single person spends $2,081 per month in Oberhausen vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,915 per month in Oberhausen vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,749 per month in Oberhausen vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Oberhausen costs about 64% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Oberhausen sits 55% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.87
$11.87MX$204
55.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3€59.7
$42.90MX$736
61.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.17
$10.65MX$183
32.68%
Cappuccino
$4.25€3.66
$3.45MX$59.2
23.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.85
$1.50MX$25.81
120.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.57
$0.95MX$16.28
213.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.79€4.13
$3.03MX$51.9
58.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66€4.01
$4.61MX$79.1
1.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.12
$1.38MX$23.61
-5.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24€1.93
$1.85MX$31.70
21.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.41€2.94
$1.61MX$27.65
111.80%
Eggs
$3.76€3.24
$2.59MX$44.51
45.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.63€12.61
$8.26MX$142
77.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.56€12.54
$8.37MX$144
73.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.34€18.38
$10.66MX$183
100.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07€2.64
$2.63MX$45.12
16.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.49MX$25.53
29.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22€1.91
$1.92MX$32.94
15.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88€4.21
$2.09MX$35.81
133.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.86MX$31.88
-18.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68€1.44
$2.26MX$38.81
-25.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.61
$1.06MX$18.23
76.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.94
$1.09MX$18.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66€8.32
$4.15MX$71.2
132.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.59€4.81
$10.39MX$178
-46.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10€0.95
$1.72MX$29.59
-36.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.43
$2.61MX$44.85
-36.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.53€3.04
$0.54MX$9.30
553.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.8€44.62
$26.94MX$462
92.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.07€4.37
$3.13MX$53.7
61.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.34€2.02
$2.51MX$43.09
-6.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.63€29.84
$3.15MX$54.1
999.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91€1.65
$1.27MX$21.88
50.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K€27.2K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
3.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
49.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$404€348
$83.0MX$1,425
386.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.95€21.50
$22.71MX$390
9.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.83€42.93
$29.46MX$506
69.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.13€35.43
$51.0MX$875
-19.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.34€20.11
$18.33MX$315
27.33%
Cinema Ticket
$17.23€14.85
$4.93MX$84.5
249.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454€391
$197MX$3,386
130.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,871€8,505
$5,280MX$90.6K
86.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6€82.3
$36.90MX$633
159.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.90€38.69
$39.89MX$685
12.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.3
$80.0MX$1,373
28.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146€126
$89.5MX$1,536
63.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$611€526
$956MX$16.4K
-36.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$638€549
$477MX$8,189
33.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748€645
$1,646MX$28.3K
-54.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$809€697
$1,225MX$21.0K
-33.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,284€1,968
$6,459MX$110.9K
-64.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,477€2,996
$667MX$11.4K
421.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.97
11.42
-65.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oberhausen: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $611 in Oberhausen versus $956 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 421% higher in Oberhausen, 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 $69.0 in Oberhausen versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $250 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Oberhausen vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
Oberhausen costs about 64% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oberhausen vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,121 per month in Oberhausen and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Oberhausen compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,081 in Oberhausen and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Oberhausen vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 92% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Oberhausen at $2,081. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oberhausen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,271 versus $2,081 in Oberhausen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Oberhausen compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oberhausen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Oberhausen vs other spots: cost of living compared