🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Oujda versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,026 in Oujda versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,373 in Oujda versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Oujda costs roughly 46% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Oujda49% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77MAD 25.91
$11.99MX$209
-76.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.02MAD 103
$41.78MX$728
-73.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.10MAD 47.69
$10.75MX$187
-52.56%
Cappuccino
$1.45MAD 13.58
$3.50MX$60.9
-58.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.44
$1.45MX$25.22
-67.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28MAD 2.59
$0.88MX$15.41
-68.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52MAD 23.62
$2.95MX$51.3
-14.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54MAD 33.17
$4.51MX$78.6
-21.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.68
$1.43MX$24.94
-42.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60MAD 5.59
$1.84MX$31.99
-67.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MAD 17.90
$1.57MX$27.31
21.66%
Eggs
$2.02MAD 18.92
$2.51MX$43.74
-19.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.95MAD 121
$8.28MX$144
56.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.25MAD 49.11
$8.43MX$147
-37.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.99MAD 84.1
$10.68MX$186
-15.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53MAD 14.31
$2.61MX$45.43
-41.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MAD 12.97
$1.44MX$25.04
-3.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.88
$1.96MX$34.16
-62.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.60
$2.09MX$36.47
-61.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61MAD 5.72
$1.85MX$32.24
-67.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69MAD 6.45
$2.17MX$37.74
-68.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87MAD 8.12
$1.03MX$17.96
-15.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.79
$1.07MX$18.70
-42.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11MAD 38.47
$4.10MX$71.4
0.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.30MAD 115
$10.17MX$177
20.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39MAD 22.38
$1.68MX$29.17
42.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05MAD 28.55
$2.53MX$43.98
20.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40MAD 3.72
$0.51MX$8.87
-21.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.38MAD 153
$26.04MX$453
-37.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56MAD 5.28
$3.23MX$56.3
-82.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MAD 5.75
$2.41MX$41.88
-74.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46MAD 41.70
$3.23MX$56.2
38.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60MAD 14.98
$1.32MX$23.00
21.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KMAD 349.4K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
25.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KMAD 276.4K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.96MAD 336
$82.0MX$1,428
-56.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99MAD 103
$22.95MX$400
-52.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7MAD 512
$30.11MX$524
81.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.33MAD 190
$52.0MX$905
-60.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.15MAD 151
$18.53MX$323
-12.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60MAD 61.7
$4.98MX$86.6
32.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.2MAD 582
$197MX$3,438
-68.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,964MAD 18.4K
$5,336MX$92.9K
-63.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.54MAD 220
$35.60MX$620
-33.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.91MAD 439
$40.33MX$702
16.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.2MAD 713
$78.8MX$1,371
-3.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.8MAD 587
$88.9MX$1,549
-29.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$209MAD 1,953
$947MX$16.5K
-77.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134MAD 1,253
$474MX$8,254
-71.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$404MAD 3,782
$1,644MX$28.6K
-75.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$282MAD 2,637
$1,211MX$21.1K
-76.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$820MAD 7,669
$4,056MX$70.6K
-79.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$513MAD 4,796
$6,470MX$112.7K
-92.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$380MAD 3,554
$654MX$11.4K
-41.92%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Oujda and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 72% 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 $202 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 85% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 72% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $209 in Oujda versus $947 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 and in 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $679 in Oujda versus $1,256 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 $679 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 85% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.