🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,076 in Campina versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,625 in Campina versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,174 in Campina versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Campina costs roughly 17% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Campina20% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.99RON 45.16
$11.73MX$203
-14.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.42RON 192
$41.62MX$720
1.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.71RON 30.35
$10.64MX$184
-36.94%
Cappuccino
$2.69RON 12.17
$3.52MX$60.9
-23.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90RON 8.60
$1.51MX$26.12
25.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73RON 7.81
$0.97MX$16.84
78.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27RON 10.27
$2.95MX$51.0
-23.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41RON 15.42
$4.45MX$77.0
-23.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45RON 6.55
$1.38MX$23.93
5.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18RON 5.35
$1.89MX$32.72
-37.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53RON 6.93
$1.64MX$28.32
-6.71%
Eggs
$3.26RON 14.75
$2.51MX$43.34
29.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.55RON 38.66
$8.34MX$144
2.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83RON 30.88
$8.34MX$144
-18.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.94RON 40.42
$10.73MX$186
-16.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21RON 5.45
$2.60MX$45.04
-53.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.33
$1.46MX$25.20
-4.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34RON 6.06
$1.90MX$32.87
-29.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21RON 9.99
$2.08MX$35.91
6.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81RON 3.64
$1.78MX$30.71
-54.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86RON 3.91
$2.19MX$37.80
-60.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02RON 4.61
$1.04MX$17.99
-1.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.88
$1.08MX$18.62
-20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87RON 26.52
$4.08MX$70.6
43.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03RON 31.78
$10.32MX$178
-31.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90RON 4.05
$1.71MX$29.61
-47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41RON 6.38
$2.58MX$44.54
-45.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89RON 4.03
$0.51MX$8.81
74.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.16RON 91.1
$26.46MX$458
-23.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80RON 3.61
$3.26MX$56.4
-75.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75RON 3.40
$2.49MX$43.09
-69.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.71RON 25.82
$3.25MX$56.2
75.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.23
$1.31MX$22.61
22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3KRON 114.5K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-16.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KRON 120.4K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
13.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141RON 638
$82.9MX$1,433
70.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.39RON 37.91
$22.22MX$384
-62.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.26RON 50.9
$29.34MX$507
-61.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.5RON 292
$51.6MX$893
25.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.25RON 87.0
$18.32MX$317
5.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80RON 30.75
$5.07MX$87.6
34.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422RON 1,907
$201MX$3,473
110.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,944RON 31.4K
$5,212MX$90.1K
33.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.6RON 369
$36.92MX$639
120.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.28RON 191
$39.79MX$688
6.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0RON 375
$78.5MX$1,357
5.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2RON 439
$87.1MX$1,506
11.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383RON 1,730
$973MX$16.8K
-60.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$285RON 1,290
$468MX$8,090
-38.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589RON 2,661
$1,641MX$28.4K
-64.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$434RON 1,963
$1,221MX$21.1K
-64.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,811RON 8,187
$3,946MX$68.3K
-54.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,387RON 6,268
$6,498MX$112.4K
-78.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747RON 3,378
$664MX$11.5K
12.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
11.42
-43.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Campina: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $383 in Campina and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Campina pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Campina vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $249 per month, with Campina 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 vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Campina or Playa del Carmen?
Campina wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Campina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Campina or Playa del Carmen?
Campina pays 13% 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 Campina vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $383 in Campina versus $973 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 Campina vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Campina compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,076 per month in Campina versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Campina or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,076 in Campina versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Campina but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Campina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Campina or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Campina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,076 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Campina hard to pass up.
How safe is Campina compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Campina 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 Campina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.