😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $839 in 'ibri.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,311 in 'ibri.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,783 in 'ibri.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 55% more expensive than 'ibri, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, 'ibri37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$2.66OMR 1.02
340.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$25.59OMR 9.85
62.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$6.63OMR 2.55
60.48%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$3.11OMR 1.20
13.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$0.67OMR 0.26
125.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$0.25OMR 0.10
288.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$5.32OMR 2.05
-44.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$11.50OMR 4.43
-61.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$1.15OMR 0.44
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$0.80OMR 0.31
136.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$1.72OMR 0.66
-4.65%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$2.40OMR 0.93
4.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$3.83OMR 1.48
117.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$3.73OMR 1.44
123.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$8.58OMR 3.30
25.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$2.57OMR 0.99
1.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$1.41OMR 0.54
3.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$1.79OMR 0.69
6.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$0.90OMR 0.34
131.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$1.00OMR 0.39
78.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$0.57OMR 0.22
284.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$0.77OMR 0.29
35.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.50OMR 0.19
116.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$5.62OMR 2.16
-27.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$15.53OMR 5.98
-33.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$4.26OMR 1.64
-59.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$7.92OMR 3.05
-67.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.55OMR 0.98
27.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$0.80OMR 0.31
211.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$10.30OMR 3.97
-68.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$0.61OMR 0.24
114.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$23.1KOMR 8,879
31.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$21.6KOMR 8,302
8.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$79.2OMR 30.50
4.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$38.52OMR 14.83
-42.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$69.6OMR 26.80
-57.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$59.4OMR 22.87
-13.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$9.01OMR 3.47
-43.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$193OMR 74.1
4.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$9,783OMR 3,766
-46.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$51.2OMR 19.71
-27.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$38.98OMR 15.01
2.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$77.6OMR 29.86
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$87.8OMR 33.79
-0.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$207OMR 79.7
369.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$129OMR 49.52
263.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$491OMR 189
234.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$343OMR 132
256.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
'ibri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$2,981OMR 1,148
-77.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.15
121.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for 'ibri: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $207 in 'ibri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰'ibri pays 349% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $26.00 in 'ibri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $206 per month, with 'ibri 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
Playa del Carmen vs 'ibri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and 'ibri?
Playa del Carmen and 'ibri differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $839 including rent). 'ibri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, 'ibri earns 349% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and 'ibri?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $207 in 'ibri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or 'ibri?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $839 in 'ibri – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $839 in 'ibri versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in 'ibri but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes 'ibri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and 'ibri?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or 'ibri safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and 'ibri are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or 'ibri?
Expats usually find 'ibri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared