Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Duqm Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Duqm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $96.4 in Duqm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $147 in Duqm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $197 in Duqm.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1207% more expensive than in Duqm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Duqm 93% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$1.90 OMR 0.73
516.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
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Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
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Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
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-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.55 OMR 0.21
174.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.54 OMR 0.21
70.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
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-
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
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-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
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-
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
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-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
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Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
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Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
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Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
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Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
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Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
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Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
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Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
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Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
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Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
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Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
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Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
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-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
-
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Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
-
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Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
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Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$78.7 OMR 30.28
-32.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
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Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$310 OMR 119
-35.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
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-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
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Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
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1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
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3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
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Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Duqm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Duqm: July 26, 2026

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 Duqm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duqm cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1207% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $145 in Duqm 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $310 in Duqm. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Duqm?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $96.4 in Duqm – a 1207% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Duqm?
At $96.4 in Duqm versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Duqm but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Duqm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Duqm more family-friendly?
For families, Duqm 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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Duqm?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Duqm are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Duqm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1207% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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