Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oberhausen and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,989 in Oberhausen, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oberhausen, Germany
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Oberhausen
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,989
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oberhausen 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 Oberhausen and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,989 per month in Oberhausen vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Oberhausen $1,989
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $2,841 per month in Oberhausen vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Oberhausen $2,841
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $3,693 per month in Oberhausen vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Oberhausen $3,693
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Oberhausen costs about 65% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Oberhausen sits 46% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.63 €14.94
$10.92 MX$204
52.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.2 €74.8
$43.37 MX$808
91.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.67 €12.28
$11.78 MX$220
16.04%
Cappuccino
$4.06 €3.65
$3.81 MX$71.0
6.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.84
$1.28 MX$23.90
147.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 €2.83
$0.78 MX$14.59
303.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 €4.98
$3.17 MX$59.0
74.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 €4.95
$4.93 MX$92.0
11.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.12
$1.41 MX$26.22
-11.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 €1.97
$2.22 MX$41.33
-1.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 €2.75
$1.42 MX$26.42
116.20%
Eggs
$3.73 €3.35
$2.52 MX$47.03
48.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.60 €12.22
$7.26 MX$135
87.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.83 €10.62
$7.70 MX$143
53.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.12 €20.77
$12.69 MX$237
82.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 €2.66
$2.78 MX$51.9
6.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 €1.84
$1.37 MX$25.50
49.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 €1.95
$2.55 MX$47.55
-14.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 €3.56
$2.12 MX$39.58
86.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.23
$1.94 MX$36.13
-29.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.89 MX$35.16
-30.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 €1.41
$1.15 MX$21.37
36.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.97
$1.18 MX$21.98
-8.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.43 €8.47
$4.30 MX$80.1
119.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.51 €4.95
$9.95 MX$185
-44.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.95
$1.58 MX$29.52
-32.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 €1.49
$2.67 MX$49.79
-37.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.27 €2.94
$0.55 MX$10.31
494.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.6 €45.41
$26.62 MX$496
89.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 €4.45
$4.97 MX$92.6
-0.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.95 €2.65
$3.33 MX$62.1
-11.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.91 €30.46
$5.36 MX$99.8
532.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.02
$1.44 MX$26.92
56.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K €29.7K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
60.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €34.7K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
64.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$386 €347
$84.8 MX$1,581
355.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43 €11.17
$23.41 MX$436
-46.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €33.07
$28.66 MX$534
28.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.55 €34.63
$57.1 MX$1,063
-32.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.31 €24.54
$28.91 MX$539
-5.53%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71 €14.11
$5.14 MX$95.8
205.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$460 €413
$207 MX$3,851
122.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,269 €8,326
$3,927 MX$73.2K
136.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4 €81.2
$43.35 MX$808
108.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.33 €37.12
$41.44 MX$772
-0.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.2 €89.1
$74.2 MX$1,383
33.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 €127
$89.3 MX$1,664
58.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 €536
$980 MX$18.3K
-39.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$614 €552
$381 MX$7,099
61.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$725 €651
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-57.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$756 €679
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-29.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,012 €3,604
$3,943 MX$73.5K
1.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,297 €2,962
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-46.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oberhausen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,377 €3,034
$735 MX$13.7K
359.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
11.45
-65.50%

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

Last update for Oberhausen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oberhausen
$614
Playa del Carmen
$381 38% $233
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oberhausen
$435
Playa del Carmen
$137 68.6% $299
Groceries & Markets
Oberhausen
$332
Playa del Carmen
$255 23.3% $77
Eating Out
Oberhausen
$287
Playa del Carmen
$202 29.4% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Oberhausen
$167
Playa del Carmen
$112 33.3% $56
Getting Around
Oberhausen
$83
Playa del Carmen
$50 39.5% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Oberhausen
$70
Playa del Carmen
$67 3.8% $2.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $597 in Oberhausen versus $980 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 in Oberhausen are about 4.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83 in Oberhausen versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Oberhausen
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
00:09 12:09 AM
18:09 6:09 PM
6 h behind Oberhausen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
209,292
149,923
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oberhausen Playa del Carmen 8,490 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oberhausen
  • 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
Oberhausen vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
Oberhausen costs about 65% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,984 per month in Oberhausen and $1,806 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 Oberhausen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $597 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
How much does it cost to live in Oberhausen compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,989 in Oberhausen and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 39% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Oberhausen compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 47% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Oberhausen at $1,989. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oberhausen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Oberhausen or Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,989 in Oberhausen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Oberhausen or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries 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

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