😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $660 in Khouribga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,019 in Khouribga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,378 in Khouribga, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 92% more than Khouribga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Khouribga are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Khouribga52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$4.26MAD 40.38
172.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$14.50MAD 138
224.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$8.46MAD 80.2
40.43%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$1.19MAD 11.32
234.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.48MAD 4.52
197.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.33MAD 3.14
148.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$3.65MAD 34.57
-12.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.67MAD 25.29
154.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.02MAD 9.66
64.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.72MAD 6.87
205.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.53MAD 14.53
11.76%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.87MAD 17.77
46.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$12.90MAD 122
-25.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.21MAD 58.9
45.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$10.75MAD 102
19.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.69MAD 15.98
71.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.51MAD 14.35
-0.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$0.87MAD 8.23
147.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.97MAD 9.18
132.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.94MAD 8.89
110.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.60MAD 5.68
231.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.20MAD 1.89
515.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.69MAD 6.52
73.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$4.10MAD 38.92
10.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.82MAD 74.1
32.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$2.55MAD 24.16
-36.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.76MAD 26.16
4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.51MAD 4.82
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$18.70MAD 177
54.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.87MAD 8.21
519.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.71MAD 6.78
425.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$5.51MAD 52.3
4.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.51MAD 14.35
1.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$29.8KMAD 282.9K
-24.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$23.6KMAD 223.4K
10.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$53.5MAD 508
70.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$8.65MAD 82.0
191.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$37.25MAD 353
-16.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$15.70MAD 149
328.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$21.22MAD 201
37.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$10.70MAD 101
-54.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$91.7MAD 870
143.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$6,342MAD 60.1K
-33.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$26.17MAD 248
79.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$41.96MAD 398
5.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$74.6MAD 707
7.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$55.2MAD 524
67.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$159MAD 1,511
566.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$107MAD 1,017
263.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$291MAD 2,762
637.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$204MAD 1,934
523.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$1,221MAD 11.6K
227.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$859MAD 8,142
657.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Khouribga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$339MAD 3,218
123.43%
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 12, 2026
Last update for Khouribga: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $159 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 123% 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 $15.00 in Khouribga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $206 – 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 92% 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 and in Khouribga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $990 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 compared to Khouribga?
Public transport costs about 54% 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 in Khouribga?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $91.7 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 in Khouribga?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Khouribga, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $660 versus $1,266 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 to 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