Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $966 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,335 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,705 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 30% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Playa del Carmen and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

$5.13 OMR 1.97

133.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

$25.59 OMR 9.85

63.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

$7.95 OMR 3.06

35.22%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

$4.75 OMR 1.83

-26.32%

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

$1.45 MX$25.41

$0.50 OMR 0.19

190.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

$0.27 OMR 0.10

225.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

$12.36 OMR 4.76

-76.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

$11.66 OMR 4.49

-61.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

$1.93 OMR 0.74

-25.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.23

$1.22 OMR 0.47

50.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

$1.68 OMR 0.65

-6.55%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$44.06

$1.91 OMR 0.73

31.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

$3.67 OMR 1.41

125.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$148

$4.26 OMR 1.64

97.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

$7.72 OMR 2.97

38.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

$2.28 OMR 0.88

14.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-17.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

$1.84 OMR 0.71

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.74

$1.12 OMR 0.43

86.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

$0.95 OMR 0.37

94.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

$0.99 OMR 0.38

119.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.84

$0.53 OMR 0.21

101.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

$6.48 OMR 2.49

-36.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

$15.88 OMR 6.11

-35.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

$7.62 OMR 2.93

-66.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

$1.26 OMR 0.49

-59.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

$1.58 OMR 0.61

104.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

$0.80 OMR 0.31

201.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-69.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

$0.64 OMR 0.25

106.25%

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

$22.5K OMR 8,649

32.16%

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

$21.5K OMR 8,261

10.25%

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

$82.0 MX$1,439

$106 OMR 40.84

-22.71%

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

$22.95 MX$403

$40.86 OMR 15.73

-43.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

$69.3 OMR 26.69

-56.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

$2.56 OMR 0.98

623.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

$10.45 OMR 4.02

-52.34%

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

$197 MX$3,463

$129 OMR 49.74

52.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

$3,739 OMR 1,439

42.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

$20.56 OMR 7.92

73.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

$26.17 OMR 10.07

54.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

$39.16 OMR 15.07

101.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

$52.4 OMR 20.17

69.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

$154 OMR 59.2

515.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

$208 OMR 80.1

127.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

$397 OMR 153

314.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

$212 OMR 81.5

471.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

$4,373 OMR 1,683

-85.05%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $154 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 569% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $220 – making Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,449 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $966 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $129 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ar-rustaq. 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.