🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $671 in Oujda versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Oujda versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,363 in Oujda versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Oujda costs roughly 48% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Oujda50% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.72MAD 25.03
$11.73MX$203
-76.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.77MAD 99.0
$41.62MX$720
-74.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.24MAD 48.12
$10.64MX$184
-50.75%
Cappuccino
$1.51MAD 13.89
$3.52MX$60.9
-57.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50MAD 4.60
$1.51MX$26.12
-66.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30MAD 2.76
$0.97MX$16.84
-69.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61MAD 24.00
$2.95MX$51.0
-11.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MAD 33.09
$4.45MX$77.0
-19.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83MAD 7.66
$1.38MX$23.93
-39.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60MAD 5.50
$1.89MX$32.72
-68.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93MAD 17.72
$1.64MX$28.32
17.68%
Eggs
$1.99MAD 18.25
$2.51MX$43.34
-20.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25MAD 122
$8.34MX$144
58.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.11MAD 46.98
$8.34MX$144
-38.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11MAD 83.7
$10.73MX$186
-15.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58MAD 14.50
$2.60MX$45.04
-39.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32MAD 12.15
$1.46MX$25.20
-9.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.18
$1.90MX$32.87
-58.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.46
$2.08MX$35.91
-61.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 5.95
$1.78MX$30.71
-63.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65MAD 5.93
$2.19MX$37.80
-70.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95MAD 8.71
$1.04MX$17.99
-8.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.03
$1.08MX$18.62
-38.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MAD 38.52
$4.08MX$70.6
2.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.62MAD 116
$10.32MX$178
22.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49MAD 22.86
$1.71MX$29.61
45.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07MAD 28.19
$2.58MX$44.54
18.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MAD 3.63
$0.51MX$8.81
-23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.22MAD 149
$26.46MX$458
-38.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54MAD 4.93
$3.26MX$56.4
-83.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62MAD 5.71
$2.49MX$43.09
-75.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.31MAD 39.61
$3.25MX$56.2
32.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MAD 14.87
$1.31MX$22.61
23.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KMAD 342.9K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
23.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KMAD 275.0K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
27.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.70MAD 337
$82.9MX$1,433
-55.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.77MAD 99.0
$22.22MX$384
-51.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4MAD 500
$29.34MX$507
85.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.31MAD 187
$51.6MX$893
-60.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.20MAD 149
$18.32MX$317
-11.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38MAD 58.7
$5.07MX$87.6
25.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.5MAD 574
$201MX$3,473
-68.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,941MAD 17.8K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-62.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.19MAD 222
$36.92MX$639
-34.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.35MAD 426
$39.79MX$688
16.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4MAD 684
$78.5MX$1,357
-5.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.2MAD 581
$87.1MX$1,506
-27.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214MAD 1,966
$973MX$16.8K
-78.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138MAD 1,267
$468MX$8,090
-70.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$408MAD 3,750
$1,641MX$28.4K
-75.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$284MAD 2,607
$1,221MX$21.1K
-76.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$803MAD 7,375
$3,946MX$68.3K
-79.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$516MAD 4,738
$6,498MX$112.4K
-92.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$388MAD 3,564
$664MX$11.5K
-41.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.78
11.42
-58.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oujda: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Oujda and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 71% 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: $11.00 in Oujda vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $249 per month, with Oujda 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
Oujda vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oujda or Playa del Carmen?
Oujda wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oujda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oujda or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 71% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oujda vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Oujda versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Oujda or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Oujda vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Oujda – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Oujda or Playa del Carmen?
At $671 in Oujda versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Oujda but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Oujda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oujda or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oujda delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $671 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oujda hard to pass up.
How safe is Oujda compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Oujda 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oujda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.