🙂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: Nabeul53% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43TND 9.72
$11.99MX$210
-71.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.70TND 58.7
$41.78MX$733
-50.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36TND 9.52
$10.75MX$189
-68.74%
Cappuccino
$0.72TND 2.04
$3.50MX$61.3
-79.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.71
$1.45MX$25.41
-58.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.71
$0.88MX$15.52
-71.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29TND 3.64
$2.95MX$51.7
-56.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73TND 4.90
$4.51MX$79.1
-61.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.51TND 1.44
$1.43MX$25.12
-64.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.18TND 0.51
$1.84MX$32.23
-90.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16TND 3.28
$1.57MX$27.51
-26.11%
Eggs
$1.63TND 4.61
$2.51MX$44.06
-35.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.19TND 31.72
$8.28MX$145
35.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78TND 16.38
$8.43MX$148
-31.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.61TND 35.73
$10.68MX$187
18.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96TND 5.56
$2.61MX$45.76
-24.90%
Banana(1kg)
$3.07TND 8.70
$1.44MX$25.22
113.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83TND 2.34
$1.96MX$34.41
-57.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62TND 1.75
$2.09MX$36.74
-70.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.77
$1.85MX$32.47
-65.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48TND 1.36
$2.17MX$38.02
-77.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52TND 1.49
$1.03MX$18.09
-49.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.94
$1.07MX$18.84
-69.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32TND 9.40
$4.10MX$72.0
-19.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.15TND 14.58
$10.17MX$178
-49.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13TND 3.21
$1.68MX$29.38
-32.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.15
$2.53MX$44.31
-56.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82TND 2.32
$0.51MX$8.93
60.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05TND 28.47
$26.04MX$457
-61.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.85
$3.23MX$56.7
-90.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.88
$2.41MX$42.19
-87.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26TND 20.58
$3.23MX$56.6
124.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84TND 2.39
$1.32MX$23.17
-36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KTND 99.5K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
18.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KTND 97.1K
$23.7KMX$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)
$46.49TND 132
$82.0MX$1,439
-43.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.35TND 26.49
$22.95MX$403
-59.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.05TND 42.65
$30.11MX$528
-50.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.83TND 81.7
$52.0MX$912
-44.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.38TND 40.76
$18.53MX$325
-22.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.48TND 12.69
$4.98MX$87.3
-10.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$85.7TND 243
$197MX$3,463
-56.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,455TND 6,957
$5,336MX$93.6K
-53.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.82TND 107
$35.60MX$624
6.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.87TND 124
$40.33MX$707
8.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.7TND 283
$78.8MX$1,381
26.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5TND 186
$88.9MX$1,560
-26.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$232TND 657
$947MX$16.6K
-75.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159TND 449
$474MX$8,314
-66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$387TND 1,097
$1,644MX$28.8K
-76.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$278TND 788
$1,211MX$21.2K
-77.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$859TND 2,434
$4,056MX$71.1K
-78.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$802TND 2,273
$6,470MX$113.5K
-87.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$257TND 729
$654MX$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.