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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Nabeul versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $994 in Nabeul versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,358 in Nabeul versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nabeul costs roughly 50% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nabeul 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 TND 9.72
$11.99 MX$210
-71.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.70 TND 58.7
$41.78 MX$733
-50.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.36 TND 9.52
$10.75 MX$189
-68.74%
Cappuccino
$0.72 TND 2.04
$3.50 MX$61.3
-79.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.71
$1.45 MX$25.41
-58.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.71
$0.88 MX$15.52
-71.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 TND 3.64
$2.95 MX$51.7
-56.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 TND 4.90
$4.51 MX$79.1
-61.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 TND 1.44
$1.43 MX$25.12
-64.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.51
$1.84 MX$32.23
-90.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 TND 3.28
$1.57 MX$27.51
-26.11%
Eggs
$1.63 TND 4.61
$2.51 MX$44.06
-35.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 TND 31.72
$8.28 MX$145
35.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.78 TND 16.38
$8.43 MX$148
-31.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.61 TND 35.73
$10.68 MX$187
18.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 TND 5.56
$2.61 MX$45.76
-24.90%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 TND 8.70
$1.44 MX$25.22
113.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 TND 2.34
$1.96 MX$34.41
-57.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.62 TND 1.75
$2.09 MX$36.74
-70.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 TND 1.77
$1.85 MX$32.47
-65.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 TND 1.36
$2.17 MX$38.02
-77.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 TND 1.49
$1.03 MX$18.09
-49.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.94
$1.07 MX$18.84
-69.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 TND 9.40
$4.10 MX$72.0
-19.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.15 TND 14.58
$10.17 MX$178
-49.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 TND 3.21
$1.68 MX$29.38
-32.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.15
$2.53 MX$44.31
-56.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 TND 2.32
$0.51 MX$8.93
60.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.05 TND 28.47
$26.04 MX$457
-61.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.85
$3.23 MX$56.7
-90.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.88
$2.41 MX$42.19
-87.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 TND 20.58
$3.23 MX$56.6
124.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 TND 2.39
$1.32 MX$23.17
-36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K TND 99.5K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
18.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K TND 97.1K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
44.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.49 TND 132
$82.0 MX$1,439
-43.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.35 TND 26.49
$22.95 MX$403
-59.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.05 TND 42.65
$30.11 MX$528
-50.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.83 TND 81.7
$52.0 MX$912
-44.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.38 TND 40.76
$18.53 MX$325
-22.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.48 TND 12.69
$4.98 MX$87.3
-10.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$85.7 TND 243
$197 MX$3,463
-56.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,455 TND 6,957
$5,336 MX$93.6K
-53.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.82 TND 107
$35.60 MX$624
6.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.87 TND 124
$40.33 MX$707
8.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 TND 283
$78.8 MX$1,381
26.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5 TND 186
$88.9 MX$1,560
-26.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 TND 657
$947 MX$16.6K
-75.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 TND 449
$474 MX$8,314
-66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 TND 1,097
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-76.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 TND 788
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-77.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$859 TND 2,434
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-78.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$802 TND 2,273
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-87.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$257 TND 729
$654 MX$11.5K
-60.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
11.42
19.09%

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

Last update for Nabeul: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $232 in Nabeul and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 154% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Nabeul vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $249 per month, with Nabeul cheaper across the board.

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
Nabeul vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nabeul or Playa del Carmen?
Nabeul wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nabeul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nabeul or in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 154% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nabeul compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $232 in Nabeul versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Nabeul compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Nabeul versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nabeul compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Nabeul runs roughly 159% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nabeul or in Playa del Carmen?
At $630 in Nabeul versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nabeul but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Nabeul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nabeul or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nabeul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $630 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nabeul hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nabeul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nabeul vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities