😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $741 in Ma'an, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,200 in Ma'an, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,659 in Ma'an, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 74% more than Ma'an, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ma'an are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Ma'an45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$7.24JOD 5.14
64.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$49.56JOD 35.14
-13.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.26JOD 5.15
45.87%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.03JOD 2.86
-10.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.49JOD 0.34
200.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.38JOD 0.27
147.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$5.48JOD 3.88
-43.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$6.89JOD 4.89
-35.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.42JOD 1.00
0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.55JOD 0.39
241.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.65JOD 1.17
-1.21%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.47JOD 1.75
6.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$6.47JOD 4.59
26.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.44JOD 4.57
28.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$11.65JOD 8.26
-4.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.07JOD 1.46
28.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.69JOD 1.20
-11.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.43JOD 1.01
39.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.74JOD 0.53
181.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.86JOD 0.61
108.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.73JOD 0.51
198.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.65JOD 0.46
66.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.63JOD 0.45
65.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.62JOD 2.56
9.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$21.35JOD 15.14
-52.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$4.74JOD 3.36
-63.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$5.50JOD 3.90
-54.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.70JOD 0.49
348.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.43JOD 1.01
67.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$7.00JOD 4.96
-55.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.40JOD 0.99
-9.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$27.6KJOD 19.6K
11.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$32.7KJOD 23.2K
-28.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$106JOD 75.3
-22.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$17.12JOD 12.14
31.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$31.63JOD 22.42
-6.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$11.47JOD 8.13
-56.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$272JOD 193
-27.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$5,475JOD 3,882
-3.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$62.0JOD 43.93
-41.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$57.3JOD 40.62
-30.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$114JOD 80.9
-29.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$80.5JOD 57.0
10.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ma'an
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.27
57.08%
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 Ma'an: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $50.0 in Ma'an. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $244 in Ma'an – so Ma'an wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ma'an: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Ma'an compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $741 in Ma'an – roughly 74% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Ma'an?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,112 in Ma'an. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $50.0 in Ma'an. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ma'an, where all-in costs run around $741, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Ma'an 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 Ma'an?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $741 in Ma'an to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Ma'an?
If budget matters most, go with Ma'an. 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