😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $799 in Mohammedia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,377 in Mohammedia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,956 in Mohammedia.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 59% more expensive than Mohammedia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Mohammedia41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$4.44MAD 41.10
167.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$29.83MAD 276
43.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$6.97MAD 64.5
52.80%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.81MAD 16.75
90.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.72MAD 6.69
108.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.38MAD 3.52
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$3.75MAD 34.70
-19.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$4.36MAD 40.34
5.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.99MAD 9.20
39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.86MAD 7.97
115.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$2.01MAD 18.63
-19.90%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.24MAD 20.76
15.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$11.28MAD 104
-26.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$6.92MAD 64.0
20.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$11.58MAD 107
-7.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.56MAD 14.46
68.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.41MAD 13.07
5.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$0.77MAD 7.11
149.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.87MAD 8.09
140.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.77MAD 7.10
141.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.80MAD 7.36
182.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.51MAD 4.71
107.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.64MAD 5.95
70.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$4.43MAD 41.00
-6.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$8.00MAD 74.0
29.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$2.89MAD 26.76
-40.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$3.21MAD 29.68
-18.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.69MAD 6.40
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$16.56MAD 153
62.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.73MAD 6.78
328.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.59MAD 5.43
325.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$5.35MAD 49.51
-41.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.61MAD 14.90
-21.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$36.9KMAD 341.6K
-17.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$27.3KMAD 252.8K
-13.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$49.23MAD 455
68.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$11.24MAD 104
102.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$39.59MAD 366
-25.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$27.51MAD 254
85.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$23.48MAD 217
-21.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$8.80MAD 81.4
-43.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$152MAD 1,409
29.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$5,489MAD 50.8K
-3.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$51.0MAD 471
-27.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$52.7MAD 488
-24.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$112MAD 1,039
-28.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$86.7MAD 802
3.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$270MAD 2,494
254.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$177MAD 1,639
169.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$512MAD 4,740
221.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$521MAD 4,821
135.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,637MAD 15.1K
139.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,041MAD 9,631
520.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mohammedia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$587MAD 5,426
13.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.35
162.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mohammedia: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $270 in Mohammedia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $30.00 in Mohammedia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $213 per month, with Mohammedia cheaper across the board.
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 Mohammedia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Mohammedia?
Playa del Carmen and Mohammedia differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $799 including rent). Mohammedia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Mohammedia?
Playa del Carmen pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Mohammedia?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $270 in Mohammedia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mohammedia – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $799 in Mohammedia versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mohammedia but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Mohammedia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Mohammedia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mohammedia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Mohammedia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Mohammedia?
Expats usually find Mohammedia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared