Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oujda Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oujda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $671 in Oujda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,017 in Oujda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,363 in Oujda.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 93% more expensive than Oujda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Oujda 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$2.72 MAD 25.03
331.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$10.77 MAD 99.0
286.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$5.24 MAD 48.12
103.05%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$1.51 MAD 13.89
133.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.50 MAD 4.60
202.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.30 MAD 2.76
223.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$2.61 MAD 24.00
13.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$3.60 MAD 33.09
23.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$0.83 MAD 7.66
66.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.60 MAD 5.50
215.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.93 MAD 17.72
-15.03%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$1.99 MAD 18.25
26.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$13.25 MAD 122
-37.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$5.11 MAD 46.98
63.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$9.11 MAD 83.7
17.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$1.58 MAD 14.50
64.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.32 MAD 12.15
10.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$0.78 MAD 7.18
143.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$0.81 MAD 7.46
156.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$0.65 MAD 5.95
173.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$0.65 MAD 5.93
236.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$0.95 MAD 8.71
9.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.66 MAD 6.03
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$4.19 MAD 38.52
-2.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$12.62 MAD 116
-18.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$2.49 MAD 22.86
-31.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$3.07 MAD 28.19
-15.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.39 MAD 3.63
30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
$16.22 MAD 149
63.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$0.54 MAD 4.93
503.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.62 MAD 5.71
301.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$4.31 MAD 39.61
-24.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.62 MAD 14.87
-19.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$37.3K MAD 342.9K
-18.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$29.9K MAD 275.0K
-21.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$36.70 MAD 337
125.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$10.77 MAD 99.0
106.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$54.4 MAD 500
-46.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$20.31 MAD 187
154.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$16.20 MAD 149
13.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$6.38 MAD 58.7
-20.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$62.5 MAD 574
221.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$1,941 MAD 17.8K
168.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$24.19 MAD 222
52.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$46.35 MAD 426
-14.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$74.4 MAD 684
5.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$63.2 MAD 581
37.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$214 MAD 1,966
354.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$138 MAD 1,267
239.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$408 MAD 3,750
302.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$284 MAD 2,607
330.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$803 MAD 7,375
391.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$516 MAD 4,738
1160.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$388 MAD 3,564
71.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.78
138.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Oujda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $214 in Oujda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 71% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $11.00 in Oujda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $204 per month, with Oujda 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 Oujda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Oujda?
Oujda wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oujda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Oujda?
Playa del Carmen pays 71% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Oujda?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $214 in Oujda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Oujda?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Oujda?
Dining out is cheaper in Oujda – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Oujda?
At $671 in Oujda versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Oujda but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Oujda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Oujda?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oujda delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $671 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oujda hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Oujda?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Oujda are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oujda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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