😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,703 in Compiegne versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,653 in Compiegne versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,603 in Compiegne versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Compiegne is roughly 35% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Compiegne is 25% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60€15.34
$11.60MX$200
51.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.2€58.5
$47.11MX$812
42.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.69€11.93
$11.88MX$205
15.24%
Cappuccino
$3.81€3.32
$3.98MX$68.6
-4.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94€2.57
$1.43MX$24.60
105.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.57
$0.82MX$14.22
119.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.23€7.17
$3.19MX$55.0
157.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.92
$6.79MX$117
-16.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.14
$1.68MX$28.89
-22.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.72
$2.20MX$37.88
-10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83€2.47
$1.71MX$29.45
65.50%
Eggs
$4.17€3.63
$2.74MX$47.26
52.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.40€19.52
$9.58MX$165
133.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.33€11.62
$9.01MX$155
47.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.06€20.97
$12.81MX$221
87.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45€3.01
$2.89MX$49.81
19.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16€1.88
$1.50MX$25.81
44.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48€2.16
$2.15MX$37.03
15.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18€2.77
$2.26MX$38.96
40.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.68
$1.98MX$34.15
-3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.84
$1.99MX$34.30
6.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.74€1.52
$1.23MX$21.28
41.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64€0.56
$1.20MX$20.63
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.69€12.81
$4.55MX$78.5
222.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71€6.72
$10.37MX$179
-25.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.62MX$27.91
53.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.11
$2.88MX$49.67
23.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.33€2.03
$5.39MX$92.9
-56.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20€1.92
$3.73MX$64.3
-41.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.53€21.39
$5.77MX$99.5
325.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.90
$1.54MX$26.48
41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
55.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K€30.8K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
35.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214€187
$91.4MX$1,576
134.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.94€13.89
$25.20MX$435
-36.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.10€27.98
$31.24MX$539
2.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.12€37.59
$67.2MX$1,159
-35.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.14€35.86
$29.11MX$502
41.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.18€12.36
$4.86MX$83.8
191.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$648€565
$224MX$3,856
189.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,575€7,475
$4,229MX$72.9K
102.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.6
$47.10MX$812
86.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94€36.56
$44.29MX$764
-5.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.7
$80.1MX$1,381
31.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107€92.9
$92.7MX$1,598
14.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$725€632
$1,063MX$18.3K
-31.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$519€452
$390MX$6,728
32.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,321€1,152
$2,149MX$37.1K
-38.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970€846
$1,272MX$21.9K
-23.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784€2,426
$4,001MX$69.0K
-30.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,147€1,872
$6,502MX$112.1K
-66.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Compiegne
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,224€1,939
$758MX$13.1K
193.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
11.45
-67.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Compiegne: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $725 in Compiegne and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Compiegne pays 193% 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: $67.0 in Compiegne vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $276 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
Compiegne vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Compiegne or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Compiegne. 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 Compiegne or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 193% higher in Compiegne, 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 Compiegne compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $725 in Compiegne versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Compiegne or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Compiegne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Compiegne compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,703 per month in Compiegne versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Compiegne or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,703 in Compiegne, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Compiegne. 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, Compiegne or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,266 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 Compiegne compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Compiegne 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 35% less than in Compiegne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.