๐A single person spends $1,819 per month in Bobigny vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,824 per month in Bobigny vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,830 per month in Bobigny vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Bobigny costs about 44% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Bobigny sits 36% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.40โฌ14.84
$11.67MX$202
49.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4โฌ59.2
$41.88MX$726
65.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.67โฌ11.66
$10.40MX$180
31.44%
Cappuccino
$3.71โฌ3.17
$3.61MX$62.6
2.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18โฌ2.71
$1.47MX$25.45
116.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05โฌ1.75
$0.91MX$15.80
125.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.03โฌ6.85
$3.03MX$52.6
165.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94โฌ5.07
$4.47MX$77.4
32.89%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$1.38MX$23.83
6.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74โฌ1.49
$1.84MX$31.93
-5.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84โฌ2.42
$1.61MX$27.82
76.40%
Eggs
$3.94โฌ3.36
$2.57MX$44.52
53.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.31โฌ19.03
$8.49MX$147
162.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.10โฌ11.17
$8.49MX$147
54.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.19โฌ17.22
$10.99MX$190
83.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49โฌ2.98
$2.73MX$47.25
27.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20โฌ1.87
$1.50MX$25.92
46.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47โฌ2.11
$1.96MX$33.93
26.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25โฌ2.77
$2.12MX$36.70
53.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.88โฌ1.61
$1.86MX$32.30
1.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10โฌ1.79
$2.17MX$37.67
-3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57โฌ1.34
$1.07MX$18.59
46.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69โฌ0.59
$1.05MX$18.18
-34.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.41โฌ11.44
$4.19MX$72.6
220.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.60โฌ7.33
$10.28MX$178
-16.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.67MX$28.87
43.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16โฌ3.55
$2.49MX$43.12
67.07%
๐ Getting Around
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02โฌ1.72
$0.54MX$9.37
274.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.48โฌ42.20
$26.27MX$455
88.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.65โฌ3.97
$3.10MX$53.8
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89โฌ1.61
$2.46MX$42.66
-23.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.35โฌ27.60
$3.24MX$56.1
898.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16โฌ1.84
$1.26MX$21.83
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2Kโฌ30.9K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
19.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9Kโฌ31.5K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
57.58%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$199โฌ170
$84.0MX$1,456
136.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.61โฌ14.17
$22.21MX$385
-25.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66โฌ25.30
$29.65MX$514
0.03%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.57โฌ32.05
$52.6MX$912
-28.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.40โฌ15.69
$18.34MX$318
0.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.31โฌ12.21
$4.95MX$85.7
189.09%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$565โฌ482
$198MX$3,438
184.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,746โฌ7,460
$5,322MX$92.2K
64.35%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5โฌ76.4
$35.95MX$623
148.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.22โฌ31.75
$40.06MX$694
-7.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8โฌ72.3
$78.8MX$1,365
7.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105โฌ90.0
$86.5MX$1,499
21.89%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$774โฌ660
$977MX$16.9K
-20.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618โฌ527
$471MX$8,158
31.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,361โฌ1,161
$1,595MX$27.6K
-14.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,077โฌ919
$1,215MX$21.1K
-11.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,194โฌ3,577
$4,032MX$69.9K
4.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,013โฌ2,570
$6,579MX$114.0K
-54.20%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Bobigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
11.42
-68.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bobigny: April 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $774 in Bobigny versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Bobigny versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $252 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bobigny vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bobigny and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,819 in Bobigny, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen โ roughly 44% apart. Bobigny costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bobigny compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,728 per month in Bobigny and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bobigny and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bobigny or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,819 in Bobigny and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Bobigny and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 88% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Bobigny at $1,819. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bobigny it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bobigny and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $1,819 in Bobigny. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bobigny or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bobigny and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bobigny makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.