๐A single person spends $1,854 per month in Meaux vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,766 per month in Meaux vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,677 per month in Meaux vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Meaux costs about 47% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Meaux sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69โฌ15.09
$11.67MX$202
51.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1โฌ48.73
$41.88MX$726
36.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.50โฌ9.81
$10.40MX$180
10.58%
Cappuccino
$2.93โฌ2.50
$3.61MX$62.6
-18.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73โฌ2.33
$1.47MX$25.45
85.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55โฌ2.18
$0.91MX$15.80
180.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.07โฌ6.03
$3.03MX$52.6
133.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75โฌ4.05
$4.47MX$77.4
6.26%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37โฌ1.17
$1.38MX$23.83
-0.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43โฌ1.22
$1.84MX$31.93
-22.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.61MX$27.82
6.21%
Eggs
$4.22โฌ3.60
$2.57MX$44.52
64.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.55โฌ9.86
$8.49MX$147
36.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.79โฌ11.76
$8.49MX$147
62.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.64โฌ16.75
$10.99MX$190
78.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42โฌ2.92
$2.73MX$47.25
25.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52โฌ1.29
$1.50MX$25.92
1.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40โฌ2.90
$1.96MX$33.93
73.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24โฌ1.91
$2.12MX$36.70
5.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71โฌ2.31
$1.86MX$32.30
45.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.99โฌ2.55
$2.17MX$37.67
37.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37โฌ1.17
$1.07MX$18.59
28.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44โฌ0.38
$1.05MX$18.18
-58.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.32โฌ13.07
$4.19MX$72.6
265.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.65โฌ3.97
$10.28MX$178
-54.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83โฌ2.41
$1.67MX$28.87
69.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02โฌ3.43
$2.49MX$43.12
61.45%
๐ Getting Around
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$0.54MX$9.37
257.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.59โฌ42.30
$26.27MX$455
88.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74โฌ4.05
$3.10MX$53.8
52.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09โฌ1.79
$2.46MX$42.66
-15.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.9โฌ46.81
$3.24MX$56.1
1593.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11โฌ1.80
$1.26MX$21.83
67.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9Kโฌ29.8K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
15.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2Kโฌ31.7K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
58.54%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251โฌ214
$84.0MX$1,456
198.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.66โฌ9.95
$22.21MX$385
-47.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.16โฌ29.14
$29.65MX$514
15.21%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94โฌ32.36
$52.6MX$912
-27.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.97โฌ15.33
$18.34MX$318
-2.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71โฌ13.40
$4.95MX$85.7
217.37%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$877โฌ748
$198MX$3,438
342.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,488โฌ7,240
$5,322MX$92.2K
59.50%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112โฌ95.7
$35.95MX$623
212.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.51โฌ39.67
$40.06MX$694
16.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125โฌ107
$78.8MX$1,365
58.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159โฌ135
$86.5MX$1,499
83.40%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763โฌ651
$977MX$16.9K
-21.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617โฌ526
$471MX$8,158
31.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,391โฌ1,186
$1,595MX$27.6K
-12.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,066โฌ909
$1,215MX$21.1K
-12.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,323โฌ3,688
$4,032MX$69.9K
7.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,051โฌ2,602
$6,579MX$114.0K
-53.63%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Meaux
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,414โฌ2,912
$714MX$12.4K
378.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
11.42
-68.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Meaux: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $763 in Meaux versus $977 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 378% higher in Meaux, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $57 in Meaux versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $252 โ 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 โ Meaux is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,781 per month in Meaux and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $877 per month in Meaux and $198 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 Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 28% 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 Meaux or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Meaux at $1,854. 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 โ 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 โ 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.