🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $617 in Campina Grande versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,040 in Campina Grande versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,464 in Campina Grande versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Campina Grande costs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Campina Grande54% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.53R$17.69
$11.73MX$203
-69.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.69R$134
$41.62MX$720
-35.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.17R$30.88
$10.64MX$184
-42.01%
Cappuccino
$0.93R$4.63
$3.52MX$60.9
-73.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01R$5.04
$1.51MX$26.12
-33.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52R$2.63
$0.97MX$16.84
-46.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57R$7.87
$2.95MX$51.0
-46.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R$10.00
$4.45MX$77.0
-55.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.23
$1.38MX$23.93
-24.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20R$6.00
$1.89MX$32.72
-36.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02R$5.09
$1.64MX$28.32
-37.80%
Eggs
$1.59R$7.97
$2.51MX$43.34
-36.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.62R$33.11
$8.34MX$144
-20.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.61R$18.05
$8.34MX$144
-56.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.63R$33.16
$10.73MX$186
-38.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06R$10.31
$2.60MX$45.04
-20.77%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93R$4.64
$1.46MX$25.20
-36.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87R$4.37
$1.90MX$32.87
-54.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09R$5.47
$2.08MX$35.91
-47.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87R$4.35
$1.78MX$30.71
-51.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99R$4.96
$2.19MX$37.80
-54.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57R$2.83
$1.04MX$17.99
-45.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.77
$1.08MX$18.62
-49.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65R$8.26
$4.08MX$70.6
-59.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76R$38.81
$10.32MX$178
-24.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42R$7.11
$1.71MX$29.61
-16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95R$9.75
$2.58MX$44.54
-24.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88R$4.41
$0.51MX$8.81
72.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.63R$178
$26.46MX$458
34.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84R$4.18
$3.26MX$56.4
-74.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68R$3.39
$2.49MX$43.09
-72.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.77R$43.89
$3.25MX$56.2
169.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.17
$1.31MX$22.61
-21.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KR$88.5K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-41.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KR$122.5K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
4.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.27R$217
$82.9MX$1,433
-47.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.90R$39.55
$22.22MX$384
-64.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.14R$70.8
$29.34MX$507
-51.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.81R$94.1
$51.6MX$893
-63.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.65R$108
$18.32MX$317
18.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.61R$23.07
$5.07MX$87.6
-9.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$135R$675
$201MX$3,473
-32.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,303R$21.5K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-17.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.93R$210
$36.92MX$639
13.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.75R$144
$39.79MX$688
-27.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.8R$349
$78.5MX$1,357
-11.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.78R$179
$87.1MX$1,506
-58.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300R$1,500
$973MX$16.8K
-69.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177R$887
$468MX$8,090
-62.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709R$3,547
$1,641MX$28.4K
-56.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$411R$2,057
$1,221MX$21.1K
-66.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$496R$2,480
$3,946MX$68.3K
-87.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$393R$1,966
$6,498MX$112.4K
-93.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campina Grande
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$441R$2,206
$664MX$11.5K
-33.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
11.42
-21.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Campina Grande: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Campina Grande and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 51% 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: $27.00 in Campina Grande vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $249 per month, with Campina Grande 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
Campina Grande vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Campina Grande?
Campina Grande is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Campina Grande or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 51% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Campina Grande and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $300 in Campina Grande versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Campina Grande or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina Grande – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Campina Grande vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $617 per month in Campina Grande versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Campina Grande or Playa del Carmen?
At $617 in Campina Grande versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Campina Grande but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Campina Grande the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Campina Grande or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Campina Grande is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Campina Grande gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Campina Grande vs other spots: cost of living compared