Cost of Living Comparison Between Coimbra and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Coimbra and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,524 in Coimbra versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,317 in Coimbra versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,109 in Coimbra versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Coimbra is roughly 18% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Coimbra is 14% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.46 €9.81
$11.94 MX$209
-4.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.48 €38.93
$42.75 MX$748
6.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.17 €7.85
$10.59 MX$185
-13.41%
Cappuccino
$1.95 €1.67
$3.62 MX$63.4
-46.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.79
$1.47 MX$25.69
42.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$0.94 MX$16.51
46.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 €1.94
$3.09 MX$54.1
-26.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 €3.04
$4.46 MX$78.0
-20.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 €0.94
$1.43 MX$24.94
-23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.47
$1.88 MX$32.97
-8.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.58
$1.63 MX$28.50
13.50%
Eggs
$2.96 €2.53
$2.64 MX$46.26
12.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.13 €9.53
$8.21 MX$144
35.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.79 €6.67
$8.29 MX$145
-6.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.23 €12.18
$11.10 MX$194
28.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 €2.22
$2.65 MX$46.40
-2.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.50 MX$26.26
-2.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.99 MX$34.79
1.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 €2.58
$2.08 MX$36.33
44.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 €1.12
$1.79 MX$31.29
-26.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 €1.54
$2.18 MX$38.09
-17.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 €1.44
$1.08 MX$18.84
55.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 €0.82
$1.04 MX$18.15
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 €5.36
$3.97 MX$69.5
57.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.99 €5.13
$10.20 MX$179
-41.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 €0.94
$1.73 MX$30.22
-36.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 €2.32
$2.50 MX$43.71
8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.96
$0.52 MX$9.07
340.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.32 €30.23
$26.97 MX$472
30.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 €3.75
$3.14 MX$55.0
39.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 €1.07
$2.40 MX$42.04
-48.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.70 €12.58
$3.09 MX$54.0
375.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.70
$1.27 MX$22.28
56.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K €32.3K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
22.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K €33.3K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
66.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 €114
$82.0 MX$1,435
62.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54 €18.43
$22.45 MX$393
-4.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.38 €36.28
$29.66 MX$519
42.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.25 €39.59
$51.9 MX$908
-10.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.73 €4.05
$18.67 MX$327
-74.67%
Cinema Ticket
$8.53 €7.30
$4.97 MX$87.0
71.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$343 €293
$198 MX$3,462
73.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,413 €7,202
$5,273 MX$92.3K
59.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9 €63.2
$36.34 MX$636
103.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.96 €29.07
$40.05 MX$701
-15.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.7 €80.2
$79.9 MX$1,398
17.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 €133
$88.9 MX$1,555
74.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$760 €651
$963 MX$16.9K
-21.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 €546
$465 MX$8,133
37.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,428 €1,222
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-10.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 €941
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-9.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,902 €2,484
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-26.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,267 €1,084
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-80.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coimbra
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 €1,204
$720 MX$12.6K
95.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.43
11.42
-52.45%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Coimbra: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Coimbra and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coimbra pays 95% 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: $45.00 in Coimbra vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $251 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
Coimbra vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Coimbra?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coimbra or Playa del Carmen?
Coimbra pays 95% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Coimbra and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $760 in Coimbra versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 31% less than in Coimbra. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $343 in Coimbra versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Coimbra or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,524 in Coimbra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Coimbra. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Coimbra or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coimbra, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Coimbra or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Coimbra 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Coimbra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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