😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,513 in Cherbourg versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,560 in Cherbourg versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,608 in Cherbourg versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Cherbourg is roughly 17% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cherbourg is 13% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.18€6.18
$11.73MX$203
-38.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6€52.1
$41.62MX$720
45.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.42€11.55
$10.64MX$184
26.13%
Cappuccino
$3.49€3.00
$3.52MX$60.9
-0.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.32
$1.51MX$26.12
78.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.58
$0.97MX$16.84
88.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.89€5.93
$2.95MX$51.0
133.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95€5.12
$4.45MX$77.0
33.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.12
$1.38MX$23.93
-5.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.89MX$32.72
-7.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$1.64MX$28.32
56.10%
Eggs
$3.98€3.42
$2.51MX$43.34
58.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.66€16.05
$8.34MX$144
123.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.84€11.91
$8.34MX$144
65.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.65€17.77
$10.73MX$186
92.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08€2.65
$2.60MX$45.04
18.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$1.46MX$25.20
53.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72€2.34
$1.90MX$32.87
43.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.54€3.04
$2.08MX$35.91
70.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$1.78MX$30.71
25.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$2.19MX$37.80
14.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.32
$1.04MX$17.99
48.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66€0.57
$1.08MX$18.62
-38.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.39€11.52
$4.08MX$70.6
228.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.16€7.02
$10.32MX$178
-20.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.24
$1.71MX$29.61
52.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49€3.01
$2.58MX$44.54
35.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60€1.37
$0.51MX$8.81
213.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.87€42.04
$26.46MX$458
84.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.59€3.95
$3.26MX$56.4
40.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89€1.63
$2.49MX$43.09
-24.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.36€31.28
$3.25MX$56.2
1018.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.91
$1.31MX$22.61
69.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K€32.0K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
22.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
58.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€165
$82.9MX$1,433
131.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.68€20.37
$22.22MX$384
6.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.47€28.79
$29.34MX$507
14.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.08€32.76
$51.6MX$893
-26.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.12€15.59
$18.32MX$317
-1.09%
Cinema Ticket
$13.98€12.02
$5.07MX$87.6
175.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793€682
$201MX$3,473
295.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,764€7,539
$5,212MX$90.1K
68.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$36.92MX$639
177.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38€33.88
$39.79MX$688
-1.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1€77.5
$78.5MX$1,357
14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€117
$87.1MX$1,506
56.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763€656
$973MX$16.8K
-21.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$396€341
$468MX$8,090
-15.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,368€1,177
$1,641MX$28.4K
-16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081€930
$1,221MX$21.1K
-11.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,192€3,606
$3,946MX$68.3K
6.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,082€2,651
$6,498MX$112.4K
-52.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cherbourg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,520€2,168
$664MX$11.5K
279.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.63
11.42
-68.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cherbourg: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Cherbourg and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cherbourg pays 280% 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: $61.0 in Cherbourg vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $249 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
Cherbourg vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cherbourg or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Cherbourg. 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 Cherbourg or Playa del Carmen?
Cherbourg pays 280% 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 Cherbourg vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Cherbourg versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Cherbourg and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $793 in Cherbourg versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Cherbourg or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Cherbourg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cherbourg or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,513 in Cherbourg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Cherbourg. 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, Cherbourg or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 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 Cherbourg compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Cherbourg 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 – expenses run 17% less than in Cherbourg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.