🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,276 in Alexandroupoli versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Alexandroupoli versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,778 in Alexandroupoli versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Alexandroupoli costs roughly 1% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandroupoli5% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.78€9.20
$11.94MX$208
-9.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€47.59
$42.75MX$744
30.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.56€9.02
$10.59MX$184
-0.28%
Cappuccino
$4.32€3.69
$3.62MX$63.0
19.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.03
$1.47MX$25.54
61.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.47
$0.94MX$16.41
-40.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.90€5.04
$3.09MX$53.8
90.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.82
$4.46MX$77.6
26.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54€1.31
$1.43MX$24.80
7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21€1.03
$1.88MX$32.79
-35.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48€2.12
$1.63MX$28.34
52.15%
Eggs
$4.27€3.64
$2.64MX$45.99
61.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.01€11.11
$8.21MX$143
58.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.60€9.05
$8.29MX$144
27.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.96€11.92
$11.10MX$193
25.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.65MX$46.14
-25.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86€1.59
$1.50MX$26.11
24.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62€1.38
$1.99MX$34.59
-18.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32€1.98
$2.08MX$36.13
11.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26€1.07
$1.79MX$31.11
-29.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92€0.78
$2.18MX$37.87
-57.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05€0.90
$1.08MX$18.73
-2.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59€0.51
$1.04MX$18.04
-43.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22€4.45
$3.97MX$69.1
31.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.98€5.96
$10.20MX$178
-31.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.19
$1.73MX$30.04
-19.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.37
$2.50MX$43.46
11.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.17
$0.52MX$9.02
163.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.53€38.88
$26.97MX$469
68.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51€3.85
$3.14MX$54.7
43.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07€0.92
$2.40MX$41.80
-55.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.95€19.60
$3.09MX$53.7
642.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14€1.82
$1.27MX$22.16
68.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K€27.1K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
2.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K€26.8K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
34.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138€118
$82.0MX$1,427
67.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.17€22.35
$22.45MX$391
16.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.01€24.77
$29.66MX$516
-2.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33€39.57
$51.9MX$903
-10.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.24€8.75
$4.97MX$86.5
106.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425€363
$198MX$3,442
115.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,384€7,160
$5,273MX$91.7K
59.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8€71.5
$36.34MX$632
130.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.77€32.25
$40.05MX$697
-5.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3€77.1
$79.9MX$1,390
13.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€99.9
$88.9MX$1,547
31.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$406€347
$963MX$16.8K
-57.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336€287
$465MX$8,086
-27.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$715€611
$1,596MX$27.8K
-55.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$613€523
$1,209MX$21.0K
-49.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,645€2,259
$3,942MX$68.6K
-32.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,599€1,365
$6,448MX$112.2K
-75.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandroupoli
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,098€938
$720MX$12.5K
52.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
11.42
-62.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandroupoli: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $406 in Alexandroupoli and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandroupoli pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Alexandroupoli vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 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
Alexandroupoli vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alexandroupoli and Playa del Carmen?
Alexandroupoli and Playa del Carmen differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,276 vs $1,287 including rent). Alexandroupoli is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Alexandroupoli or Playa del Carmen?
Alexandroupoli pays 52% 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 do apartment prices compare in Alexandroupoli and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $406 in Alexandroupoli versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Alexandroupoli – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Alexandroupoli or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,276 per month in Alexandroupoli versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,276 in Alexandroupoli versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandroupoli but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandroupoli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alexandroupoli and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Alexandroupoli or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Alexandroupoli 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.
Where should expats move: Alexandroupoli or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Alexandroupoli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alexandroupoli vs other spots: cost of living compared