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 $1,266 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 Carmen 7% lower, Khouribga 52% lower.

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

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