😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $648 in Beni Mellal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,012 in Beni Mellal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,376 in Beni Mellal, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 101% more than Beni Mellal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Beni Mellal are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Beni Mellal53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$3.66MAD 34.40
226.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$26.92MAD 253
76.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$5.62MAD 52.8
109.07%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$1.29MAD 12.12
219.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.65MAD 6.12
115.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.36MAD 3.43
152.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$2.70MAD 25.40
18.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.15MAD 29.56
124.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$0.87MAD 8.14
93.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.68MAD 6.37
216.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.91MAD 17.96
-7.33%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.70MAD 15.99
65.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$11.72MAD 110
-21.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$6.92MAD 65.1
33.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$10.57MAD 99.3
19.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.24MAD 11.69
137.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.05MAD 9.84
50.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$0.66MAD 6.19
236.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$0.88MAD 8.23
168.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$0.62MAD 5.78
220.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$0.77MAD 7.19
157.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.30MAD 2.86
313.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.63MAD 5.93
92.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$4.15MAD 39.02
10.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$7.81MAD 73.4
34.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$2.74MAD 25.74
-38.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.81MAD 26.44
-1.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.33MAD 3.11
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$8.50MAD 79.9
249.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$0.72MAD 6.81
627.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.95MAD 8.90
284.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$2.68MAD 25.17
115.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.58MAD 14.82
-2.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$34.8KMAD 327.4K
-34.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$32.7KMAD 306.9K
-20.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$35.26MAD 331
157.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$10.32MAD 97.0
144.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$26.25MAD 247
20.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$21.37MAD 201
221.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$15.90MAD 149
84.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$6.57MAD 61.7
-26.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$185MAD 1,741
21.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$7,166MAD 67.3K
-41.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$49.97MAD 470
-5.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$44.78MAD 421
-2.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$75.6MAD 710
6.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$68.5MAD 643
33.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beni Mellal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$206MAD 1,932
428.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$135MAD 1,270
202.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$286MAD 2,689
589.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$205MAD 1,929
524.27%
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
Beni Mellal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$338MAD 3,177
128.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.52
153.32%
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 Beni Mellal: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $206 in Beni Mellal. 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 129% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Beni Mellal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $198 – making Beni Mellal 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 Beni Mellal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Beni Mellal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, $648 in Beni Mellal – roughly 101% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Beni Mellal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $973 in Beni Mellal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Beni Mellal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beni Mellal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Beni Mellal?
Public transport costs about 249% less in Beni Mellal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Beni Mellal?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $185 in Beni Mellal. 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 Beni Mellal, where all-in costs run around $648, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Beni Mellal 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 Beni Mellal?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $648 in Beni Mellal to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Beni Mellal safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Beni Mellal?
If budget matters most, go with Beni Mellal. 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