🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,080 in Campina versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,611 in Campina versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,142 in Campina versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Campina costs roughly 14% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Campina19% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.03RON 45.78
$11.99MX$210
-16.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.84RON 196
$41.78MX$731
2.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.92RON 31.60
$10.75MX$188
-35.63%
Cappuccino
$2.65RON 12.10
$3.50MX$61.1
-24.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.96
$1.45MX$25.33
35.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73RON 7.92
$0.88MX$15.47
96.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37RON 10.81
$2.95MX$51.6
-19.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36RON 15.34
$4.51MX$78.9
-25.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46RON 6.68
$1.43MX$25.04
2.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17RON 5.33
$1.84MX$32.13
-36.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.18
$1.57MX$27.42
-
Eggs
$3.34RON 15.24
$2.51MX$43.92
33.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.60RON 39.27
$8.28MX$145
3.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.98RON 31.87
$8.43MX$147
-17.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.80RON 40.16
$10.68MX$187
-17.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20RON 5.49
$2.61MX$45.62
-54.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42RON 6.49
$1.44MX$25.15
-1.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29RON 5.88
$1.96MX$34.31
-34.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23RON 10.16
$2.09MX$36.62
6.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81RON 3.71
$1.85MX$32.37
-56.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87RON 3.98
$2.17MX$37.90
-59.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06RON 4.86
$1.03MX$18.04
2.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RON 4.06
$1.07MX$18.78
-16.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89RON 26.91
$4.10MX$71.7
43.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96RON 31.78
$10.17MX$178
-31.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93RON 4.24
$1.68MX$29.29
-44.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43RON 6.53
$2.53MX$44.17
-43.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95RON 4.35
$0.51MX$8.90
86.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.18RON 92.1
$26.04MX$455
-22.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78RON 3.56
$3.23MX$56.5
-75.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75RON 3.42
$2.41MX$42.06
-68.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91RON 26.99
$3.23MX$56.5
82.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.29
$1.32MX$23.10
21.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRON 111.6K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
-17.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRON 121.7K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
12.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141RON 642
$82.0MX$1,434
71.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86RON 40.44
$22.95MX$401
-61.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.45RON 52.3
$30.11MX$527
-61.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.3RON 289
$52.0MX$909
21.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.37RON 88.4
$18.53MX$324
4.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73RON 30.70
$4.98MX$87.0
35.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$418RON 1,906
$197MX$3,452
111.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,921RON 31.6K
$5,336MX$93.3K
29.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.2RON 384
$35.60MX$622
136.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.34RON 198
$40.33MX$705
7.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1RON 388
$78.8MX$1,377
8.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4RON 449
$88.9MX$1,555
10.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392RON 1,789
$947MX$16.6K
-58.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290RON 1,325
$474MX$8,288
-38.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$578RON 2,639
$1,644MX$28.7K
-64.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433RON 1,977
$1,211MX$21.2K
-64.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,992RON 9,091
$4,056MX$70.9K
-50.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,402RON 6,402
$6,470MX$113.1K
-78.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$713RON 3,256
$654MX$11.4K
9.07%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Campina and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Campina pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Campina vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $249, with Campina cheaper for home cooking.
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 16% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Campina, 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $392 in Campina versus $947 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina – a meal for two runs $43.00 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 $1,080 per month in Campina versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 16% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,080 in Campina versus $1,256 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 $1,080 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 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.