Cost of Living Comparison Between Le Bardo and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Le Bardo and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $681 per month in Le Bardo vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,069 per month in Le Bardo vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,457 per month in Le Bardo vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Le Bardo is about 46% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Le Bardo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Le Bardo 49% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47 TND 10.11
$11.87 MX$204
-70.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.50 TND 74.4
$42.90 MX$736
-40.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.72 TND 13.76
$10.65 MX$183
-55.68%
Cappuccino
$1.07 TND 3.13
$3.45 MX$59.2
-68.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.75
$1.50 MX$25.81
-60.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.75
$0.95 MX$16.28
-72.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 TND 4.89
$3.03 MX$51.9
-44.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 TND 6.86
$4.61 MX$79.1
-49.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$1.38 MX$23.61
-64.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.52
$1.85 MX$31.70
-90.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.33
$1.61 MX$27.65
-8.07%
Eggs
$1.48 TND 4.32
$2.59 MX$44.51
-42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.40 TND 30.33
$8.26 MX$142
25.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.58 TND 16.28
$8.37 MX$144
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.76 TND 40.14
$10.66 MX$183
29.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 TND 6.08
$2.63 MX$45.12
-20.91%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 TND 8.90
$1.49 MX$25.53
104.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 TND 2.92
$1.92 MX$32.94
-47.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.71 TND 2.07
$2.09 MX$35.81
-66.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.15
$1.86 MX$31.88
-60.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 TND 2.24
$2.26 MX$38.81
-65.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$1.06 MX$18.23
-53.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$1.09 MX$18.67
-69.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63 TND 10.59
$4.15 MX$71.2
-12.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.26 TND 15.34
$10.39 MX$178
-49.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 TND 3.72
$1.72 MX$29.59
-25.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TND 3.06
$2.61 MX$44.85
-59.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.94
$0.54 MX$9.30
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.12 TND 29.53
$26.94 MX$462
-62.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.94
$3.13 MX$53.7
-89.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$2.51 MX$43.09
-86.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 TND 9.81
$3.15 MX$54.1
6.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 TND 2.47
$1.27 MX$21.88
-33.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K TND 109.8K
$30.4K MX$521.3K
23.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K TND 112.2K
$23.6K MX$404.5K
63.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.1 TND 172
$83.0 MX$1,425
-28.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.86 TND 28.76
$22.71 MX$390
-56.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.75 TND 60.5
$29.46 MX$506
-29.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.01 TND 123
$51.0 MX$875
-17.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.79 TND 34.38
$18.33 MX$315
-35.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.56 TND 16.22
$4.93 MX$84.5
12.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 311
$197 MX$3,386
-46.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,866 TND 8,362
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-45.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.93 TND 131
$36.90 MX$633
21.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.69 TND 127
$39.89 MX$685
9.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 TND 279
$80.0 MX$1,373
19.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4 TND 237
$89.5 MX$1,536
-9.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 TND 711
$956 MX$16.4K
-74.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 TND 447
$477 MX$8,189
-67.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$397 TND 1,158
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-75.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 TND 754
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-78.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$959 TND 2,798
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-75.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$635 TND 1,853
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-90.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$389 TND 1,136
$667 MX$11.4K
-41.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
11.42
-3.68%

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

Last update for Le Bardo: June 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Le Bardo versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 71% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Le Bardo versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $250 – making Le Bardo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Le Bardo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Le Bardo?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,021 per month in Le Bardo and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Le Bardo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Le Bardo and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 36% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Le Bardo or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Le Bardo and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Le Bardo or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Le Bardo, where all-in costs run around $681, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Le Bardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Le Bardo or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Le Bardo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Le Bardo or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Le Bardo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Le Bardo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities