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: $624 in Nabeul versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,014 in Nabeul versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Nabeul versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nabeul costs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nabeul 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.36 TND 9.75
$11.73 MX$203
-71.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.21 TND 58.7
$41.62 MX$720
-51.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.40 TND 9.89
$10.64 MX$184
-68.05%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.06
$3.52 MX$60.9
-79.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.76
$1.51 MX$26.12
-59.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.97 MX$16.84
-74.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.25 TND 3.62
$2.95 MX$51.0
-57.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 TND 4.85
$4.45 MX$77.0
-62.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.53 TND 1.55
$1.38 MX$23.93
-61.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.50
$1.89 MX$32.72
-91.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 TND 3.27
$1.64 MX$28.32
-31.10%
Eggs
$1.62 TND 4.71
$2.51 MX$43.34
-35.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 TND 32.21
$8.34 MX$144
33.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.66 TND 16.43
$8.34 MX$144
-32.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.50 TND 36.30
$10.73 MX$186
16.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 TND 5.96
$2.60 MX$45.04
-21.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.96 TND 8.58
$1.46 MX$25.20
102.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 TND 2.37
$1.90 MX$32.87
-56.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.87
$2.08 MX$35.91
-69.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.86
$1.78 MX$30.71
-64.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 TND 1.39
$2.19 MX$37.80
-78.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.39
$1.04 MX$17.99
-53.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$1.08 MX$18.62
-71.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 TND 9.95
$4.08 MX$70.6
-15.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.04 TND 14.64
$10.32 MX$178
-51.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.20
$1.71 MX$29.61
-35.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 TND 3.09
$2.58 MX$44.54
-58.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 TND 2.58
$0.51 MX$8.81
74.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.03 TND 29.12
$26.46 MX$458
-62.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$3.26 MX$56.4
-90.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$2.49 MX$43.09
-87.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.42 TND 21.55
$3.25 MX$56.2
128.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.40
$1.31 MX$22.61
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K TND 101.4K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
15.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K TND 99.4K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
46.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.25 TND 134
$82.9 MX$1,433
-44.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.86 TND 28.62
$22.22 MX$384
-55.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.02 TND 43.62
$29.34 MX$507
-48.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.10 TND 84.5
$51.6 MX$893
-43.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.15 TND 41.09
$18.32 MX$317
-22.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.45 TND 12.92
$5.07 MX$87.6
-12.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$86.3 TND 251
$201 MX$3,473
-57.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,502 TND 7,266
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-51.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.24 TND 111
$36.92 MX$639
3.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.82 TND 130
$39.79 MX$688
12.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 293
$78.5 MX$1,357
28.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8 TND 188
$87.1 MX$1,506
-25.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 TND 679
$973 MX$16.8K
-75.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 TND 464
$468 MX$8,090
-65.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 TND 1,095
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-77.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 TND 827
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-76.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$873 TND 2,535
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-77.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$817 TND 2,372
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-87.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nabeul
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$270 TND 785
$664 MX$11.5K
-59.26%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Nabeul and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 145% 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: $20.00 in Nabeul vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 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 108% 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 Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 145% less. 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Nabeul versus $973 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 $624 per month in Nabeul versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nabeul vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Nabeul runs roughly 164% 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $624 in Nabeul versus $1,297 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 $624 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 108% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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