😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,871 in Annemasse versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Annemasse versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,759 in Annemasse versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Annemasse is roughly 49% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Annemasse is 40% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.43
$11.99MX$210
47.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4€54.5
$41.78MX$731
49.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74€8.51
$10.75MX$188
-9.40%
Cappuccino
$4.32€3.78
$3.50MX$61.1
23.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01€3.50
$1.45MX$25.33
176.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.50
$0.88MX$15.47
225.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.17€6.27
$2.95MX$51.6
143.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06€4.42
$4.51MX$78.9
12.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.09
$1.43MX$25.04
-12.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.56
$1.84MX$32.13
-3.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.57MX$27.42
28.66%
Eggs
$3.26€2.85
$2.51MX$43.92
29.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.68€18.07
$8.28MX$145
149.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.34€11.66
$8.43MX$147
58.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.67€18.06
$10.68MX$187
93.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.46
$2.61MX$45.62
8.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$1.44MX$25.15
52.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.78€2.43
$1.96MX$34.31
41.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.20
$2.09MX$36.62
20.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.18
$1.85MX$32.37
-27.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77€1.55
$2.17MX$37.90
-18.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.04
$1.03MX$18.04
15.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66€0.58
$1.07MX$18.78
-38.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.83€12.08
$4.10MX$71.7
237.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.98€6.10
$10.17MX$178
-31.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.40€2.97
$1.68MX$29.29
102.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.09
$2.53MX$44.17
39.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00€1.74
$0.51MX$8.90
292.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.75€43.46
$26.04MX$455
91.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51€3.94
$3.23MX$56.5
39.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.87€1.63
$2.41MX$42.06
-22.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.30€30.84
$3.23MX$56.5
992.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.95
$1.32MX$23.10
68.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€32.2K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
24.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K€33.9K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
63.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191€167
$82.0MX$1,434
132.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.97€20.07
$22.95MX$401
0.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.56€28.44
$30.11MX$527
8.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.7€55.7
$52.0MX$909
22.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.07
$18.53MX$324
-0.76%
Cinema Ticket
$13.76€12.02
$4.98MX$87.0
176.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784€685
$197MX$3,452
296.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,750€7,645
$5,336MX$93.3K
63.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.6
$35.60MX$622
191.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.91€33.99
$40.33MX$705
-3.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.0€76.9
$78.8MX$1,377
11.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€121
$88.9MX$1,555
55.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,036€905
$947MX$16.6K
9.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626€547
$474MX$8,288
32.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,380€1,206
$1,644MX$28.7K
-16.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072€936
$1,211MX$21.2K
-11.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,925€3,429
$4,056MX$70.9K
-3.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,635€3,176
$6,470MX$113.1K
-43.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Annemasse
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,421€2,989
$654MX$11.4K
423.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
11.42
-66.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Annemasse: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,036 in Annemasse and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Annemasse pays 423% 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: $62.0 in Annemasse vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $249 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
Annemasse vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Annemasse or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Annemasse. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Annemasse or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 423% higher in Annemasse, 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 Annemasse compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,036 in Annemasse versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Annemasse compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,871 per month in Annemasse versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Annemasse compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 91% less than in Annemasse. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Annemasse or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,871 in Annemasse, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Annemasse. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Annemasse or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Annemasse compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Annemasse 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Annemasse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.