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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $668 in Khouribga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,030 in Khouribga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,393 in Khouribga, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 93% more than Khouribga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Khouribga are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Khouribga 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$3.88 MAD 35.92
207.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$23.87 MAD 221
79.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$4.57 MAD 42.28
131.73%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$1.18 MAD 10.88
206.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.37 MAD 3.38
297.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.23 MAD 2.13
308.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$3.37 MAD 31.19
-8.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.42 MAD 22.38
84.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.01 MAD 9.38
41.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.53 MAD 4.90
254.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.70 MAD 15.71
-4.12%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.76 MAD 16.29
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$9.93 MAD 91.9
-17.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$5.38 MAD 49.77
54.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$9.99 MAD 92.4
11.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.34 MAD 12.43
97.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.56 MAD 14.40
-3.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$0.77 MAD 7.08
158.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$1.07 MAD 9.90
94.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.96 MAD 8.87
86.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.69 MAD 6.42
215.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.39 MAD 3.65
176.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.59 MAD 5.44
76.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$4.10 MAD 37.88
-3.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$7.87 MAD 72.8
29.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$2.62 MAD 24.25
-33.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$2.75 MAD 25.41
-9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.54 MAD 4.96
-3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$16.60 MAD 154
62.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.85 MAD 7.89
269.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.48 MAD 4.46
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$4.32 MAD 39.92
-28.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.49 MAD 13.80
-14.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$36.6K MAD 338.3K
-15.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$29.8K MAD 275.7K
-21.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$48.71 MAD 451
68.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$11.16 MAD 103
101.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$35.57 MAD 329
-16.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$14.80 MAD 137
250.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$23.62 MAD 219
-20.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$6.54 MAD 60.5
-24.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$95.9 MAD 887
106.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$3,492 MAD 32.3K
51.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$15.62 MAD 145
132.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$33.38 MAD 309
19.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$85.9 MAD 795
-7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$33.35 MAD 309
166.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$281 MAD 2,595
243.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$175 MAD 1,623
164.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$503 MAD 4,656
217.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$306 MAD 2,835
294.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$1,622 MAD 15.0K
142.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$957 MAD 8,851
573.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$344 MAD 3,183
109.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.78
138.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Khouribga: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $281 in Khouribga. 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 109% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Khouribga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $188 – making Khouribga 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 Khouribga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Khouribga?
Playa del Carmen costs about 93% more than Khouribga, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Khouribga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,002 in Khouribga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Khouribga?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khouribga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Khouribga?
Public transport costs about 62% less in Khouribga. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Khouribga?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $95.9 in Khouribga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Khouribga?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Khouribga, where all-in costs run around $668, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Khouribga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Khouribga?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khouribga costs $668 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Khouribga?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Khouribga?
If budget matters most, go with Khouribga. 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

Similar cities