😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $931 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,409 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,887 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 40% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Al-masna'ah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Al-masna'ah33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$5.31OMR 2.04
125.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$33.62OMR 12.94
40.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$7.63OMR 2.94
54.00%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$4.94OMR 1.90
-16.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.90OMR 0.35
55.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.29OMR 0.11
213.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$12.78OMR 4.92
-74.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$12.87OMR 4.95
-45.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$2.29OMR 0.88
-26.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$1.29OMR 0.50
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.87OMR 0.72
-5.35%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$2.86OMR 1.10
-1.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$7.57OMR 2.91
21.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$6.92OMR 2.66
33.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$10.49OMR 4.04
20.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$3.54OMR 1.36
-16.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.99OMR 0.77
-20.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$2.34OMR 0.90
-5.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$1.24OMR 0.48
90.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.21OMR 0.47
64.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.27OMR 0.49
55.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.79OMR 0.69
-30.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.63OMR 0.24
92.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$6.52OMR 2.51
-29.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$15.33OMR 5.90
-31.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$5.43OMR 2.09
-68.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$8.82OMR 3.39
-68.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$3.34OMR 1.28
56.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$2.68OMR 1.03
36.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$7.71OMR 2.97
-25.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$0.61OMR 0.23
152.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$25.7KOMR 9,908
-11.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$22.9KOMR 8,801
12.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$174OMR 66.8
-47.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$30.57OMR 11.77
-17.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$71.0OMR 27.32
-55.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$10.41OMR 4.01
-53.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$282OMR 108
-19.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$10.6KOMR 4,089
-60.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$56.8OMR 21.87
-16.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$43.98OMR 16.93
-1.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$91.6OMR 35.26
-12.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$96.2OMR 37.02
-4.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$3,968OMR 1,527
-80.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5.25
118.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Al-masna'ah: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 413% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Al-masna'ah. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Playa del Carmen vs $285 in Al-masna'ah – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, $931 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 40% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,396 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $931 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 $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $282 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 $931, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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 $931 in Al-masna'ah to $1,305 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared