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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,341 per month in Meaux vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,179 per month in Meaux vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,016 per month in Meaux vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Meaux costs about 4% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Meaux and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Meaux 2% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.90 €16.26
$11.71 MX$198
61.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 €68.7
$46.59 MX$786
71.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.78 €11.85
$11.65 MX$197
18.28%
Cappuccino
$5.19 €4.47
$4.09 MX$69.1
26.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 €4.10
$1.37 MX$23.20
248.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.47
$0.83 MX$14.07
245.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.20 €7.06
$3.35 MX$56.6
144.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17 €6.17
$6.91 MX$117
3.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.73 MX$29.15
-20.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.26 MX$38.15
-39.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.77 MX$29.86
-3.39%
Eggs
$4.27 €3.68
$2.73 MX$46.12
56.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.73 €10.10
$9.18 MX$155
27.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.08 €12.97
$8.92 MX$151
69.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.70 €19.53
$12.60 MX$213
80.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.41 €2.93
$3.02 MX$51.0
12.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.57 MX$26.51
-1.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 €2.69
$2.13 MX$35.88
46.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 €2.02
$2.26 MX$38.22
3.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.00 MX$33.82
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 €2.22
$2.06 MX$34.85
25.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 €1.22
$1.18 MX$19.91
20.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 €0.41
$1.20 MX$20.32
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.13 €13.02
$4.63 MX$78.2
226.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.62 €3.98
$10.69 MX$180
-56.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.46
$1.62 MX$27.33
76.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 €3.28
$2.88 MX$48.63
32.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.27 €3.68
$0.57 MX$9.68
649.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$107 €92.4
$29.83 MX$503
260.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.09 €7.82
$5.45 MX$91.9
66.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.28
$3.70 MX$62.5
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.06 €41.35
$5.98 MX$101
703.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €1.96
$1.55 MX$26.22
47.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K €31.4K
$22.3K MX$376.8K
63.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K €30.8K
$25.9K MX$438.0K
38.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 €232
$89.1 MX$1,504
202.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.47 €9.87
$25.04 MX$423
-54.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.33 €26.09
$31.50 MX$532
-3.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.8 MX$1,144
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.94 €12.86
$5.05 MX$85.2
195.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,841 €1,585
$225 MX$3,797
718.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.4K €22.7K
$4,222 MX$71.3K
525.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 €101
$47.44 MX$801
147.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 €45.21
$44.98 MX$759
16.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 €109
$82.0 MX$1,384
54.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 €141
$92.1 MX$1,555
77.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,069 MX$18.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$405 MX$6,842
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,617 €3,973
$3,995 MX$67.4K
15.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,520 €3,029
$6,626 MX$111.8K
-46.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,430 €2,952
$749 MX$12.6K
358.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.27
11.45
-71.44%

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

Last update for Meaux: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 358% higher in Meaux, 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 $80.0 in Meaux versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $277 – 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
Meaux vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Meaux?
Yes – Meaux is pricier by about 4%, 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 $2,011 per month in Meaux and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,841 per month in Meaux and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Meaux and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Meaux, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Meaux or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Meaux at $1,341. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Meaux it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Meaux or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Meaux 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Meaux makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Meaux vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities