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: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $664 in Oujda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,016 in Oujda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,368 in Oujda.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 91% more expensive than in Oujda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Oujda 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$4.06 MAD 38.46
185.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$18.39 MAD 174
156.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$5.22 MAD 49.50
127.59%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$1.54 MAD 14.60
158.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$0.49 MAD 4.64
191.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$0.40 MAD 3.82
105.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$2.60 MAD 24.65
22.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$3.47 MAD 32.89
95.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$0.86 MAD 8.12
95.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$0.25 MAD 2.36
780.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$1.93 MAD 18.28
-11.40%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$1.93 MAD 18.29
41.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$12.34 MAD 117
-22.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$4.08 MAD 38.69
120.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$8.76 MAD 83.1
46.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$1.59 MAD 15.06
81.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.39 MAD 13.20
7.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$1.01 MAD 9.55
112.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$0.94 MAD 8.90
140.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$0.75 MAD 7.14
164.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.00 MAD 9.44
99.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$0.52 MAD 4.91
136.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.68 MAD 6.48
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$4.03 MAD 38.24
12.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$12.09 MAD 115
-14.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$2.54 MAD 24.11
-36.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$2.79 MAD 26.47
3.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$0.35 MAD 3.36
71.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$19.36 MAD 184
48.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$0.71 MAD 6.76
659.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.61 MAD 5.77
511.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$5.09 MAD 48.27
13.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.54 MAD 14.63
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$35.2K MAD 334.0K
-35.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$31.1K MAD 295.1K
-16.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$57.2 MAD 542
59.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$10.42 MAD 98.8
141.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$49.03 MAD 465
-36.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$19.12 MAD 181
251.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$15.72 MAD 149
85.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$5.90 MAD 56.0
-17.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$104 MAD 984
115.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$5,832 MAD 55.3K
-27.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$18.40 MAD 175
155.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$45.88 MAD 435
-3.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$56.3 MAD 534
42.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$52.9 MAD 501
75.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$202 MAD 1,920
424.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$132 MAD 1,250
196.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$386 MAD 3,657
457.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$270 MAD 2,561
371.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$776 MAD 7,361
415.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$512 MAD 4,852
1170.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$382 MAD 3,618
98.73%
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 Oujda: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $202 in Oujda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 99% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $18.00 in Oujda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $192 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 91% 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 in Oujda?
Average pay runs 99% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 compared to Oujda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $202 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 in Oujda?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% 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 and in Oujda?
Dining out is cheaper in Oujda – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $47.00 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 in Oujda?
At $664 in Oujda versus $1,266 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 $664 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 91% 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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