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 $687 per month in Le Bardo vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,085 per month in Le Bardo vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,483 per month in Le Bardo vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Le Bardo is about 45% 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 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 TND 9.77
$11.72 MX$203
-71.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.95 TND 73.2
$41.89 MX$725
-40.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.81 TND 14.13
$10.51 MX$182
-54.23%
Cappuccino
$1.03 TND 3.03
$3.59 MX$62.0
-71.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.78
$1.51 MX$26.10
-59.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.76
$0.92 MX$15.83
-71.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 TND 5.10
$2.96 MX$51.2
-41.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 TND 6.77
$4.41 MX$76.3
-47.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.43
$1.40 MX$24.16
-65.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.16 TND 0.47
$1.88 MX$32.60
-91.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 TND 4.59
$1.56 MX$26.97
-
Eggs
$1.51 TND 4.42
$2.61 MX$45.14
-42.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.40 TND 30.51
$8.32 MX$144
25.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.72 TND 16.77
$8.35 MX$145
-31.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.44 TND 39.45
$10.86 MX$188
23.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 TND 6.18
$2.71 MX$46.93
-22.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 TND 9.04
$1.51 MX$26.04
103.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 TND 3.08
$1.87 MX$32.41
-43.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.07
$2.19 MX$37.89
-68.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 TND 2.37
$1.86 MX$32.14
-56.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 TND 2.12
$2.23 MX$38.59
-67.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 TND 1.51
$1.07 MX$18.48
-52.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$1.09 MX$18.79
-71.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.65 TND 10.72
$4.19 MX$72.4
-12.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.16 TND 15.14
$10.43 MX$180
-50.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 TND 3.92
$1.66 MX$28.68
-19.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.24
$2.61 MX$45.19
-57.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$0.54 MX$9.37
-35.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.13 TND 29.72
$26.16 MX$453
-61.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.33 TND 0.95
$3.08 MX$53.3
-89.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$2.40 MX$41.61
-87.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 TND 10.21
$3.13 MX$54.1
11.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.42
$1.31 MX$22.69
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K TND 111.1K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
26.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K TND 110.9K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
62.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.4 TND 174
$81.3 MX$1,406
-26.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 TND 28.36
$22.56 MX$390
-57.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.79 TND 61.0
$30.05 MX$520
-30.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.30 TND 124
$52.9 MX$915
-20.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.03 TND 35.29
$18.39 MX$318
-34.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.58 TND 16.38
$4.92 MX$85.1
13.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 314
$201 MX$3,474
-46.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,824 TND 8,288
$5,175 MX$89.5K
-45.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 TND 135
$35.92 MX$622
28.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.21 TND 130
$40.13 MX$694
10.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.5 TND 286
$79.7 MX$1,379
22.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5 TND 236
$86.5 MX$1,496
-6.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 TND 717
$978 MX$16.9K
-75.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 TND 442
$470 MX$8,140
-68.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 TND 1,194
$1,651 MX$28.6K
-75.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 TND 748
$1,203 MX$20.8K
-78.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$983 TND 2,884
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-75.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$652 TND 1,913
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-90.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Le Bardo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$381 TND 1,117
$677 MX$11.7K
-43.73%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Le Bardo versus $978 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 78% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $252 – 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 83%, 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 $1,031 per month in Le Bardo and $1,890 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 in 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Le Bardo and $42.00 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 living in Le Bardo or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Le Bardo, where all-in costs run around $687, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.

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