Cost of Living Comparison Between Aix-en-Provence and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Aix-en-Provence and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,100 in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,215 in Aix-en-Provence versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,329 in Aix-en-Provence versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Aix-en-Provence is roughly 67% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aix-en-Provence is 58% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 €15.08
$11.72 MX$203
48.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7 €49.94
$41.89 MX$725
37.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.79 €11.07
$10.51 MX$182
21.69%
Cappuccino
$3.49 €3.02
$3.59 MX$62.0
-2.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.33
$1.51 MX$26.10
78.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 €1.53
$0.92 MX$15.83
92.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.80 €5.88
$2.96 MX$51.2
129.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 €6.18
$4.41 MX$76.3
61.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.16
$1.40 MX$24.16
-4.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.88 MX$32.60
-10.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 €2.19
$1.56 MX$26.97
62.18%
Eggs
$4.24 €3.67
$2.61 MX$45.14
62.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.13 €17.43
$8.32 MX$144
141.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.89 €10.30
$8.35 MX$145
42.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.01 €14.73
$10.86 MX$188
56.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 €1.88
$2.71 MX$46.93
-19.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.51 MX$26.04
35.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 €2.21
$1.87 MX$32.41
36.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.10
$2.19 MX$37.89
10.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$1.86 MX$32.14
-3.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.23 MX$38.59
2.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.34
$1.07 MX$18.48
44.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 €0.70
$1.09 MX$18.79
-25.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.65 €10.95
$4.19 MX$72.4
201.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.99 €7.78
$10.43 MX$180
-13.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52 €3.05
$1.66 MX$28.68
112.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.40
$2.61 MX$45.19
6.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 €1.32
$0.54 MX$9.37
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.22 €30.50
$26.16 MX$453
34.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 €2.47
$3.08 MX$53.3
-7.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 €1.57
$2.40 MX$41.61
-24.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.02 €29.46
$3.13 MX$54.1
986.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.31 MX$22.69
57.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K €27.9K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K €33.8K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
67.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 €183
$81.3 MX$1,406
160.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.33 €22.80
$22.56 MX$390
16.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.59 €33.42
$30.05 MX$520
28.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.57 €35.13
$52.9 MX$915
-23.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.59 €15.23
$18.39 MX$318
-4.35%
Cinema Ticket
$15.04 €13.03
$4.92 MX$85.1
205.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,087 €942
$201 MX$3,474
441.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K €11.7K
$5,175 MX$89.5K
162.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 €119
$35.92 MX$622
281.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.9 €56.2
$40.13 MX$694
61.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €88.1
$79.7 MX$1,379
27.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 €123
$86.5 MX$1,496
63.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,012
$978 MX$16.9K
19.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 €766
$470 MX$8,140
88.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,749
$1,651 MX$28.6K
22.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,698 €1,471
$1,203 MX$20.8K
41.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,760 €6,720
$3,953 MX$68.4K
96.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,765 €4,127
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-27.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aix-en-Provence
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,476 €3,010
$677 MX$11.7K
413.76%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,169 in Aix-en-Provence and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aix-en-Provence pays 414% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $252 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 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aix-en-Provence or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 414% higher in Aix-en-Provence, 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: $1,169 in Aix-en-Provence versus $978 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,100 per month in Aix-en-Provence versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 67% 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 35% 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 living in Aix-en-Provence or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,100 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 67% less than in Aix-en-Provence. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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