🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $664 in Oujda versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,016 in Oujda versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,368 in Oujda versus $3,292 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: Oujda51% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06MAD 38.46
$11.60MX$200
-65.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39MAD 174
$47.11MX$812
-60.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.22MAD 49.50
$11.88MX$205
-56.06%
Cappuccino
$1.54MAD 14.60
$3.98MX$68.6
-61.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MAD 4.64
$1.43MX$24.60
-65.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40MAD 3.82
$0.82MX$14.22
-51.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60MAD 24.65
$3.19MX$55.0
-18.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MAD 32.89
$6.79MX$117
-48.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86MAD 8.12
$1.68MX$28.89
-48.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25MAD 2.36
$2.20MX$37.88
-88.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93MAD 18.28
$1.71MX$29.45
12.87%
Eggs
$1.93MAD 18.29
$2.74MX$47.26
-29.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.34MAD 117
$9.58MX$165
28.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.08MAD 38.69
$9.01MX$155
-54.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.76MAD 83.1
$12.81MX$221
-31.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59MAD 15.06
$2.89MX$49.81
-44.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MAD 13.20
$1.50MX$25.81
-7.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01MAD 9.55
$2.15MX$37.03
-53.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94MAD 8.90
$2.26MX$38.96
-58.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 7.14
$1.98MX$34.15
-62.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MAD 9.44
$1.99MX$34.30
-49.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52MAD 4.91
$1.23MX$21.28
-57.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68MAD 6.48
$1.20MX$20.63
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03MAD 38.24
$4.55MX$78.5
-11.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.09MAD 115
$10.37MX$179
16.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54MAD 24.11
$1.62MX$27.91
56.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79MAD 26.47
$2.88MX$49.67
-3.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MAD 3.36
$0.60MX$10.35
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.36MAD 184
$28.80MX$497
-32.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71MAD 6.76
$5.39MX$92.9
-86.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MAD 5.77
$3.73MX$64.3
-83.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.09MAD 48.27
$5.77MX$99.5
-11.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MAD 14.63
$1.54MX$26.48
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KMAD 334.0K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
56.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMAD 295.1K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
19.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.2MAD 542
$91.4MX$1,576
-37.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.42MAD 98.8
$25.20MX$435
-58.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.03MAD 465
$31.24MX$539
56.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.12MAD 181
$67.2MX$1,159
-71.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.72MAD 149
$29.11MX$502
-46.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90MAD 56.0
$4.86MX$83.8
21.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104MAD 984
$224MX$3,856
-53.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,832MAD 55.3K
$4,229MX$72.9K
37.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.40MAD 175
$47.10MX$812
-60.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.88MAD 435
$44.29MX$764
3.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.3MAD 534
$80.1MX$1,381
-29.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.9MAD 501
$92.7MX$1,598
-42.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202MAD 1,920
$1,063MX$18.3K
-80.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$132MAD 1,250
$390MX$6,728
-66.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386MAD 3,657
$2,149MX$37.1K
-82.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MAD 2,561
$1,272MX$21.9K
-78.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$776MAD 7,361
$4,001MX$69.0K
-80.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512MAD 4,852
$6,502MX$112.1K
-92.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oujda
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$382MAD 3,618
$758MX$13.1K
-49.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
11.45
-60.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oujda: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $202 in Oujda and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 99% 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: $18.00 in Oujda vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $276 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 91% 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 99% 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: $202 in Oujda versus $1,063 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 44% 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 $18.00 versus $47.00 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 $664 in Oujda versus $1,266 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 $664 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 91% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.