Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $792 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,184 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,576 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 59% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Al-masna'ah 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$5.32 OMR 2.05
120.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$26.28 OMR 10.12
59.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$7.83 OMR 3.02
34.23%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$4.83 OMR 1.86
-25.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$1.00 OMR 0.39
51.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$0.34 OMR 0.13
170.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$12.19 OMR 4.69
-75.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$11.91 OMR 4.58
-62.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$2.00 OMR 0.77
-30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$1.23 OMR 0.47
52.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$1.73 OMR 0.66
-9.83%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$2.47 OMR 0.95
5.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$3.74 OMR 1.44
122.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$4.96 OMR 1.91
68.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$8.64 OMR 3.33
25.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$2.60 OMR 1.00
4.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$1.66 OMR 0.64
-9.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$1.84 OMR 0.71
1.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$1.17 OMR 0.45
87.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$1.02 OMR 0.39
82.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$0.98 OMR 0.38
127.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$1.08 OMR 0.41
-0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$0.55 OMR 0.21
98.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$6.46 OMR 2.49
-35.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$15.75 OMR 6.06
-33.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$4.31 OMR 1.66
-61.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$7.91 OMR 3.05
-67.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$3.17 OMR 1.22
-2.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$0.75 OMR 0.29
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$10.28 OMR 3.96
-69.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$0.60 OMR 0.23
118.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$22.7K OMR 8,747
31.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$21.7K OMR 8,347
7.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$105 OMR 40.48
-22.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$40.58 OMR 15.62
-44.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$70.4 OMR 27.10
-57.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$10.49 OMR 4.04
-53.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$192 OMR 73.9
4.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$9,815 OMR 3,779
-47.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$49.42 OMR 19.03
-27.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$38.67 OMR 14.89
3.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$79.5 OMR 30.62
0.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$90.4 OMR 34.79
-4.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
$3,952 OMR 1,522
-82.88%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 484% higher in Al-masna'ah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in Al-masna'ah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $232 – making Al-masna'ah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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-masna'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Al-masna'ah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $792 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 59% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Al-masna'ah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,188 in Al-masna'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Al-masna'ah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $792 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $192 in Al-masna'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $792 in Al-masna'ah to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah?
If budget matters most, go with Al-masna'ah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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