😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,092 in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,207 in Aix-en-Provence versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,323 in Aix-en-Provence versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Aix-en-Provence is roughly 63% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aix-en-Provence is 56% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46€14.91
$11.94MX$208
46.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5€49.12
$42.75MX$744
34.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.95€11.06
$10.59MX$184
22.29%
Cappuccino
$3.62€3.09
$3.62MX$63.0
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61€2.23
$1.47MX$25.54
77.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.47
$0.94MX$16.41
82.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.13€6.09
$3.09MX$53.8
130.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10€6.06
$4.46MX$77.6
59.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.14
$1.43MX$24.80
-6.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.44
$1.88MX$32.79
-10.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.53€2.16
$1.63MX$28.34
55.21%
Eggs
$4.41€3.76
$2.64MX$45.99
67.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.12€17.18
$8.21MX$143
145.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.87€10.14
$8.29MX$144
43.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.03€14.55
$11.10MX$193
53.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17€1.85
$2.65MX$46.14
-18.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02€1.73
$1.50MX$26.11
34.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.23
$1.99MX$34.59
31.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.11
$2.08MX$36.13
18.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.79MX$31.11
-3.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25€1.92
$2.18MX$37.87
3.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.31
$1.08MX$18.73
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.04MX$18.04
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.96€11.07
$3.97MX$69.1
226.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.92€8.47
$10.20MX$178
-2.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.59€3.07
$1.73MX$30.04
107.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.37
$2.50MX$43.46
11.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54€1.32
$0.52MX$9.02
196.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.88€29.79
$26.97MX$469
29.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94€2.51
$3.14MX$54.7
-6.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83€1.56
$2.40MX$41.80
-23.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.70€28.78
$3.09MX$53.7
990.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97€1.68
$1.27MX$22.16
55.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K€27.4K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
3.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K€33.7K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
69.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217€185
$82.0MX$1,427
164.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.10€22.29
$22.45MX$391
16.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.37€32.77
$29.66MX$516
29.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.93€34.10
$51.9MX$903
-23.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11€14.61
$18.67MX$325
-8.36%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63€13.35
$4.97MX$86.5
214.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,074€918
$198MX$3,442
443.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.5K
$5,273MX$91.7K
156.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$134€114
$36.34MX$632
267.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.0€54.7
$40.05MX$697
59.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€86.5
$79.9MX$1,390
26.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145€124
$88.9MX$1,547
63.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,149€982
$963MX$16.8K
19.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$871€743
$465MX$8,086
87.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,043€1,745
$1,596MX$27.8K
27.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,429
$1,209MX$21.0K
38.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,862€6,714
$3,942MX$68.6K
99.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,999€4,270
$6,448MX$112.2K
-22.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,605€3,078
$720MX$12.5K
400.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.42
-69.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aix-en-Provence: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,149 in Aix-en-Provence and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aix-en-Provence pays 400% 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: $58.0 in Aix-en-Provence vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Aix-en-Provence vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Aix-en-Provence?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aix-en-Provence or Playa del Carmen?
Aix-en-Provence pays 400% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Aix-en-Provence and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,149 in Aix-en-Provence versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Aix-en-Provence vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,092 per month in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 29% less than in Aix-en-Provence. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Aix-en-Provence or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,092 in Aix-en-Provence, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Aix-en-Provence. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aix-en-Provence or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aix-en-Provence, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aix-en-Provence or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Aix-en-Provence and Playa del Carmen 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Aix-en-Provence. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Aix-en-Provence vs other spots: cost of living compared