Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al-Rumaitha Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Al-Rumaitha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 69% more expensive than Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$4.07 IQD 5,331

188.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

68.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.94 IQD 9,087

53.31%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$2.57 IQD 3,369

36.96%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$0.39 IQD 516

287.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.16 IQD 216

506.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$2.86 IQD 3,743

3.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$2.95 IQD 3,870

50.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.33 IQD 1,736

3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$0.85 IQD 1,112

122.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.57 IQD 2,060

4.46%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$1.78 IQD 2,329

41.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$4.38 IQD 5,741

90.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$4.73 IQD 6,192

76.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

-17.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$1.20 IQD 1,577

116.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.15 IQD 1,500

26.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$1.06 IQD 1,383

79.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$0.70 IQD 919

197.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$0.70 IQD 920

154.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$0.63 IQD 830

247.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$0.64 IQD 835

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.55 IQD 722

96.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$1.94 IQD 2,546

110.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

-21.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.84 IQD 2,414

-7.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$2.14 IQD 2,806

20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.37 IQD 483

37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-16.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$2.34 IQD 3,070

39.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$1.48 IQD 1,935

68.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$6.14 IQD 8,044

-47.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$0.54 IQD 703

142.59%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

61.41%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

17.33%

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

7.78%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

27.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

-15.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

39.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

11.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-33.64%

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

$201 MX$3,480

$150 IQD 196.0K

34.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

61.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

35.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

55.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

25.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

114.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$244 IQD 319.4K

298.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$176 IQD 230.0K

166.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$570 IQD 746.9K

187.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$343 IQD 449.5K

255.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.67

101.41%

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 Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $184 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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 Al-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al-Rumaitha is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Al-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.