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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,647 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 34% 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 3% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$5.28 OMR 2.03

122.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$26.10 OMR 10.05

59.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$8.00 OMR 3.08

33.00%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$5.01 OMR 1.93

-29.74%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$0.50 OMR 0.19

202.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.27 OMR 0.10

259.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$12.54 OMR 4.83

-76.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$11.82 OMR 4.55

-62.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-29.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$1.24 OMR 0.48

52.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-1.80%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$1.88 OMR 0.72

33.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$3.86 OMR 1.48

116.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$4.20 OMR 1.62

98.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$7.87 OMR 3.03

36.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$2.30 OMR 0.89

13.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-12.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$1.83 OMR 0.71

3.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$1.12 OMR 0.43

85.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$1.03 OMR 0.40

72.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$1.03 OMR 0.40

112.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-4.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.51 OMR 0.20

111.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$6.47 OMR 2.49

-36.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$15.89 OMR 6.12

-35.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-59.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$7.71 OMR 2.97

-66.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-61.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$1.58 OMR 0.61

106.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$0.75 OMR 0.29

232.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$10.25 OMR 3.94

-68.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$0.61 OMR 0.23

114.75%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$22.5K OMR 8,645

34.84%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$21.9K OMR 8,417

7.17%

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$106 OMR 40.86

-21.92%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$40.96 OMR 15.77

-45.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$70.0 OMR 26.96

-58.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$2.58 OMR 0.99

610.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$10.32 OMR 3.97

-50.87%

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

$201 MX$3,480

$132 OMR 51.0

51.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$3,748 OMR 1,443

39.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$20.63 OMR 7.94

78.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$25.54 OMR 9.83

55.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$39.59 OMR 15.24

98.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$51.5 OMR 19.82

69.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$159 OMR 61.2

511.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$211 OMR 81.1

122.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$385 OMR 148

326.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$211 OMR 81.1

479.70%

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

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-84.89%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $159 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 562% 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 $221 – 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 34%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,455 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $132 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 $970, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.