๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,039 in Bourges versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,074 in Bourges versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,109 in Bourges versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Bourges is roughly 62% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Bourges is 51% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27โฌ14.70
$11.61MX$201
48.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7โฌ62.8
$42.75MX$742
72.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.50โฌ10.64
$10.60MX$184
17.92%
Cappuccino
$3.86โฌ3.28
$3.59MX$62.3
7.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.48
$1.45MX$25.21
100.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77โฌ1.51
$0.90MX$15.58
96.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.28โฌ7.04
$3.03MX$52.6
173.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96โฌ5.92
$4.56MX$79.2
52.63%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$1.45MX$25.20
1.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$1.83MX$31.72
39.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68โฌ2.28
$1.61MX$27.92
66.46%
Eggs
$4.17โฌ3.55
$2.54MX$44.05
64.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.15โฌ20.55
$8.54MX$148
182.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.86โฌ13.50
$8.47MX$147
87.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.31โฌ21.54
$10.86MX$189
133.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72โฌ2.31
$2.73MX$47.37
-0.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57โฌ2.18
$1.49MX$25.91
72.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49โฌ2.97
$1.94MX$33.73
79.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.89โฌ3.31
$2.16MX$37.57
80.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$1.85MX$32.05
49.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79โฌ2.38
$2.19MX$38.00
27.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48โฌ1.26
$1.07MX$18.62
38.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87โฌ0.74
$1.08MX$18.81
-19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.72โฌ11.67
$4.06MX$70.5
237.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.38โฌ7.13
$10.46MX$182
-19.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16โฌ2.69
$1.65MX$28.71
91.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13โฌ2.67
$2.55MX$44.23
22.75%
๐ Getting Around
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$0.56MX$9.65
244.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.60โฌ42.21
$26.20MX$455
89.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.89โฌ5.02
$3.14MX$54.5
87.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$2.37MX$41.17
-19.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.4โฌ48.80
$3.24MX$56.2
1670.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10โฌ1.79
$1.31MX$22.81
60.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7Kโฌ32.1K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
23.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9Kโฌ32.3K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
59.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$284โฌ242
$83.1MX$1,443
241.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.27โฌ18.95
$22.15MX$385
0.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.15โฌ31.61
$29.37MX$510
26.49%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.25โฌ32.55
$51.2MX$889
-25.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.44โฌ15.69
$18.69MX$324
-1.34%
Cinema Ticket
$14.10โฌ12.00
$4.89MX$84.9
188.34%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$291โฌ247
$199MX$3,449
46.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9Kโฌ10.1K
$5,207MX$90.4K
128.78%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110โฌ93.7
$35.93MX$624
206.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.93โฌ42.49
$39.39MX$684
26.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123โฌ104
$80.3MX$1,394
52.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163โฌ139
$87.6MX$1,520
86.18%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$770โฌ655
$963MX$16.7K
-20.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606โฌ516
$482MX$8,370
25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,225โฌ1,042
$1,645MX$28.6K
-25.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,105โฌ940
$1,192MX$20.7K
-7.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,047โฌ891
$6,513MX$113.1K
-83.92%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Bourges
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,993โฌ2,547
$726MX$12.6K
312.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.76
11.42
-67.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bourges: April 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $770 in Bourges and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBourges pays 312% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $74 in Bourges vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 vs $253 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
Bourges vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bourges or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ living expenses run 62% lower than in Bourges. 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 Bourges or Playa del Carmen?
Bourges pays 312% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bourges vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $770 in Bourges versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bourges vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $74.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bourges compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,039 per month in Bourges versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen โ a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bourges or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,039 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bourges. 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, Bourges or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,262 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 Bourges compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Bourges 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 โ expenses run 62% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.