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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $817 in Shinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,214 in Shinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,610 in Shinas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 59% more than Shinas, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Playa del Carmen and Shinas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Shinas 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$5.16 OMR 1.99

127.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$25.55 OMR 9.84

62.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$7.58 OMR 2.92

40.37%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$4.76 OMR 1.83

-26.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.06 OMR 0.41

42.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.34 OMR 0.13

185.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$12.19 OMR 4.69

-75.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$11.81 OMR 4.55

-62.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.93 OMR 0.74

-28.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$1.18 OMR 0.45

60.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-5.20%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$2.38 OMR 0.92

5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$3.73 OMR 1.43

123.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$4.96 OMR 1.91

68.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$8.62 OMR 3.32

24.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$2.62 OMR 1.01

-0.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-15.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$1.77 OMR 0.68

7.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$1.17 OMR 0.45

77.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$1.01 OMR 0.39

76.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$0.99 OMR 0.38

121.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$1.04 OMR 0.40

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.52 OMR 0.20

107.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$6.44 OMR 2.48

-36.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$15.86 OMR 6.11

-34.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$4.37 OMR 1.68

-60.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$7.75 OMR 2.98

-66.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$3.19 OMR 1.23

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$0.79 OMR 0.30

215.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$10.29 OMR 3.96

-68.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$0.59 OMR 0.23

122.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$22.8K OMR 8,779

32.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$21.7K OMR 8,368

7.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,436

$106 OMR 40.81

-21.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$385

$41.81 OMR 16.10

-46.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$70.7 OMR 27.21

-58.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$10.28 OMR 3.96

-50.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,480

$196 OMR 75.3

2.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$9,761 OMR 3,758

-46.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$50.2 OMR 19.32

-26.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$39.84 OMR 15.34

-0.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$77.9 OMR 30.00

0.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$88.8 OMR 34.17

-1.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$3,087 OMR 1,188

-78.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.15

121.75%

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 Shinas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 365% higher in Shinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in Shinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $230 – making Shinas 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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 59%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,226 in Shinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $817 in Shinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $196 in Shinas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shinas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Shinas. 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.