Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al Ghubra Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al Ghubra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $89.5 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $159 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $229 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1314% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Al Ghubra 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$811

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.5

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.20

$0.25 OMR 0.10

228.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.85

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-37.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.41

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.20

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.74

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.78

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.98

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.91

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.3

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.45

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$448.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,573

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$434

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$538

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,157

$44.21 OMR 17.02

52.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

$36.32 OMR 13.98

-19.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.7

$8.88 OMR 3.42

-45.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,851

$179 OMR 68.8

25.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,719

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$3,168 OMR 1,220

-76.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 318% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Al Ghubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Al Ghubra differ by about 1314% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $89.5 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 318% lower in Al Ghubra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $179 in Al Ghubra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $89.5 in Al Ghubra – a 1314% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $89.5 in Al Ghubra versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Al Ghubra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1314% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.