😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $271 in Nouadhibou, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $501 in Nouadhibou, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $731 in Nouadhibou, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 377% more than Nouadhibou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Nouadhibou are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Nouadhibou80% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$199
$2.85MRU 114
310.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$791
$17.22MRU 689
170.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$198
$5.88MRU 236
98.13%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.5
$2.45MRU 97.9
66.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.34
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.16
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.9
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.33
$1.23MRU 49.28
40.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.39
$0.37MRU 14.70
510.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.05
$1.10MRU 44.13
60.91%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.41
$2.16MRU 86.4
26.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$156
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$2.70MRU 108
230.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$214
$6.31MRU 253
99.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.3
$1.73MRU 69.4
74.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.68
$1.51MRU 60.6
3.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.10
$1.12MRU 44.84
90.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.46
$0.77MRU 30.72
193.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.04
$0.78MRU 31.33
156.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.06
$0.73MRU 29.27
182.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$20.04
$0.65MRU 26.10
81.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.45
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Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.7
$2.44MRU 97.9
89.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$182
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-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.50
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-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.93
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.74
$0.36MRU 14.56
58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$507
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-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.5
$0.92MRU 36.96
492.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.9
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$102
$7.68MRU 307
-22.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.22MRU 48.84
27.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$379.2K
-
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Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$440.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,514
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$425
-
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Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$535
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,151
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$491
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-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.8
-
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,820
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.7K
-
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$806
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$764
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,392
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,564
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-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.2K
$64.1MRU 2,567
1568.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,884
$99.2MRU 3,973
308.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.1K
$244MRU 9,776
432.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nouadhibou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Nouadhibou: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $64.1 in Nouadhibou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Nouadhibou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $94.0 – making Nouadhibou 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 Nouadhibou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nouadhibou cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 377%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $407 in Nouadhibou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nouadhibou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Nouadhibou?
Groceries cost about 195% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Nouadhibou?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $17.00 in Nouadhibou. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Nouadhibou?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nouadhibou, where all-in costs run around $271, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Nouadhibou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nouadhibou more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nouadhibou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nouadhibou. 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