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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,245 per month in Longueuil vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,030 per month in Longueuil vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Longueuil vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Longueuil costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Longueuil sits 68% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.41 CA$23.00
$11.99 MX$210
36.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 CA$105
$41.78 MX$733
79.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.84 CA$15.19
$10.75 MX$189
0.84%
Cappuccino
$3.32 CA$4.66
$3.50 MX$61.3
-5.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.90
$1.45 MX$25.41
42.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 CA$2.11
$0.88 MX$15.52
71.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.55 CA$6.38
$2.95 MX$51.7
54.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 CA$8.87
$4.51 MX$79.1
40.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 CA$2.88
$1.43 MX$25.12
44.06%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 CA$4.73
$1.84 MX$32.23
83.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.41 CA$6.18
$1.57 MX$27.51
180.89%
Eggs
$3.42 CA$4.80
$2.51 MX$44.06
36.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.39
$8.28 MX$145
41.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.23 CA$14.35
$8.43 MX$148
21.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.32 CA$15.87
$10.68 MX$187
5.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.33
$2.61 MX$45.76
45.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 CA$1.93
$1.44 MX$25.22
-4.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 CA$5.49
$1.96 MX$34.41
99.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.23
$2.09 MX$36.74
78.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 CA$2.82
$1.85 MX$32.47
8.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 CA$3.05
$2.17 MX$38.02
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 CA$3.06
$1.03 MX$18.09
111.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.49
$1.07 MX$18.84
65.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.34 CA$17.30
$4.10 MX$72.0
200.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.80 CA$15.14
$10.17 MX$178
6.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 CA$3.52
$1.68 MX$29.38
49.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 CA$4.83
$2.53 MX$44.31
36.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.40 CA$4.76
$0.51 MX$8.93
566.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$145 CA$204
$26.04 MX$457
458.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 CA$5.07
$3.23 MX$56.7
12.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 CA$4.07
$2.41 MX$42.19
20.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.66 CA$47.19
$3.23 MX$56.6
942.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.70
$1.32 MX$23.17
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K CA$35.2K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
-15.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K CA$28.5K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
-13.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.5 CA$123
$82.0 MX$1,439
6.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.02 CA$56.1
$22.95 MX$403
74.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.13 CA$67.5
$30.11 MX$528
59.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.63 CA$38.73
$52.0 MX$912
-46.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.29 CA$17.23
$18.53 MX$325
-33.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.08 CA$15.54
$4.98 MX$87.3
122.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$612 CA$859
$197 MX$3,463
210.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,761 CA$8,077
$5,336 MX$93.6K
7.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1 CA$87.1
$35.60 MX$624
74.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.69 CA$62.7
$40.33 MX$707
10.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 CA$123
$78.8 MX$1,381
11.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CA$166
$88.9 MX$1,560
32.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$934 CA$1,310
$947 MX$16.6K
-1.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 CA$1,479
$474 MX$8,314
122.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 CA$1,850
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-19.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 CA$1,675
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-1.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,510 CA$4,920
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-13.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Longueuil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,607 CA$3,655
$654 MX$11.5K
298.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
11.42
-43.08%

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

Last update for Longueuil: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $934 in Longueuil versus $947 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 299% higher in Longueuil, 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 $75.0 in Longueuil versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Longueuil vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Longueuil or Playa del Carmen?
Longueuil costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Longueuil and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,367 per month in Longueuil and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Longueuil or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Longueuil and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $612 per month in Longueuil and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Longueuil or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Longueuil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Longueuil or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Longueuil at $2,245. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Longueuil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Longueuil or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $2,245 in Longueuil. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Longueuil compared to 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.
Should I move to Longueuil or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Longueuil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Longueuil vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities