😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,365 in Bergen op Zoom versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,353 in Bergen op Zoom versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,342 in Bergen op Zoom versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bergen op Zoom is roughly 88% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bergen op Zoom is 77% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.14€14.15
$11.95MX$208
35.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9€70.0
$41.94MX$730
90.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.08
$10.42MX$181
32.15%
Cappuccino
$3.03€2.65
$3.51MX$61.2
-13.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07€2.69
$1.52MX$26.39
101.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.10
$0.91MX$15.85
163.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.13€5.37
$3.04MX$52.9
101.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34€4.68
$4.37MX$76.1
22.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.10
$1.42MX$24.73
-11.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.81
$1.83MX$31.87
13.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26€1.98
$1.63MX$28.45
38.65%
Eggs
$3.17€2.78
$2.54MX$44.20
24.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.87€9.53
$8.57MX$149
26.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.05€11.45
$8.49MX$148
53.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.39€15.25
$10.80MX$188
61.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€2.00
$2.75MX$47.95
-17.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$1.44MX$25.00
77.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.89MX$32.84
4.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62€3.18
$2.17MX$37.77
66.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.89
$1.78MX$30.97
20.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21€1.94
$2.22MX$38.71
-0.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08€0.94
$1.07MX$18.60
0.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51€0.45
$1.08MX$18.79
-52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.76€8.56
$4.15MX$72.2
135.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.15
$10.45MX$182
-32.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.18
$1.74MX$30.34
-22.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.40
$2.58MX$44.93
6.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.59€4.90
$0.51MX$8.94
996.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.4€82.8
$25.94MX$452
263.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.95€3.46
$3.21MX$55.9
23.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69€2.36
$2.50MX$43.55
7.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.99€25.42
$3.19MX$55.4
808.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20€1.93
$1.26MX$21.87
74.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9K€37.6K
$29.7KMX$516.7K
44.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K€33.6K
$23.7KMX$412.2K
61.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$197€173
$82.0MX$1,428
140.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.88€9.54
$22.73MX$396
-52.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.84€34.93
$29.42MX$512
35.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.87€26.19
$52.2MX$908
-42.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.09€20.25
$18.45MX$321
25.15%
Cinema Ticket
$12.90€11.31
$4.93MX$85.9
161.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437€383
$202MX$3,512
116.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,388€5,601
$5,217MX$90.8K
22.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2€65.9
$35.93MX$625
109.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02€41.22
$40.33MX$702
16.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1€79.9
$79.9MX$1,390
14.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134€117
$89.3MX$1,554
49.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,411€1,237
$948MX$16.5K
48.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,156€1,014
$465MX$8,098
148.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,335€2,047
$1,630MX$28.4K
43.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738€1,524
$1,193MX$20.8K
45.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,194€8,061
$3,933MX$68.5K
133.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,864€6,018
$6,428MX$111.9K
6.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen op Zoom
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,375€2,959
$658MX$11.5K
412.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
11.42
-62.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bergen op Zoom: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,411 in Bergen op Zoom and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergen op Zoom pays 413% 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: $80.0 in Bergen op Zoom vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 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
Bergen op Zoom vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bergen op Zoom or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 88% lower than in Bergen op Zoom. 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 Bergen op Zoom or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 413% higher in Bergen op Zoom, 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 Bergen op Zoom compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,411 in Bergen op Zoom versus $948 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 Bergen op Zoom compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,365 per month in Bergen op Zoom versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – a 88% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bergen op Zoom compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 264% less than in Bergen op Zoom. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bergen op Zoom or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,365 in Bergen op Zoom, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bergen op Zoom. 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, Bergen op Zoom or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,259 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 Bergen op Zoom compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Bergen op Zoom 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 88% less than in Bergen op Zoom. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Bergen op Zoom vs other spots: cost of living compared