๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,039 in Bourges.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,074 in Bourges.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,109 in Bourges.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 38% less than in Bourges, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Bourges is 51% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$17.27โฌ14.70
-32.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$73.7โฌ62.8
-42.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$12.50โฌ10.64
-15.20%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$3.86โฌ3.28
-6.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.91โฌ2.48
-50.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.77โฌ1.51
-49.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$8.28โฌ7.04
-63.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$6.96โฌ5.92
-34.48%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.47โฌ1.25
-1.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.55โฌ2.17
-28.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.68โฌ2.28
-39.93%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$4.17โฌ3.55
-39.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$24.15โฌ20.55
-64.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$15.86โฌ13.50
-46.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$25.31โฌ21.54
-57.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.72โฌ2.31
0.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.57โฌ2.18
-42.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$3.49โฌ2.97
-44.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$3.89โฌ3.31
-44.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$2.76โฌ2.35
-32.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.79โฌ2.38
-21.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.48โฌ1.26
-27.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.87โฌ0.74
24.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$13.72โฌ11.67
-70.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$8.38โฌ7.13
24.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$3.16โฌ2.69
-47.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$3.13โฌ2.67
-18.53%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$1.93โฌ1.64
-70.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$49.60โฌ42.21
-47.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.89โฌ5.02
-46.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.91โฌ1.63
24.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$57.4โฌ48.80
-94.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.10โฌ1.79
-37.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$37.7Kโฌ32.1K
-19.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$37.9Kโฌ32.3K
-37.22%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$284โฌ242
-70.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$22.27โฌ18.95
-0.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$37.15โฌ31.61
-20.94%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$38.25โฌ32.55
33.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$18.44โฌ15.69
1.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$14.10โฌ12.00
-65.32%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$291โฌ247
-31.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$11.9Kโฌ10.1K
-56.29%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$110โฌ93.7
-67.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$49.93โฌ42.49
-21.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$123โฌ104
-34.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$163โฌ139
-46.29%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$770โฌ655
25.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$606โฌ516
-20.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,225โฌ1,042
34.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,105โฌ940
7.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$1,047โฌ891
522.00%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bourges
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$2,993โฌ2,547
-75.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.76
203.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Bourges: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $770 in Bourges. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBourges pays 312% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $74 in Bourges for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $427 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Playa del Carmen vs Bourges: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Bourges?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ living expenses run 62% lower than in Bourges. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Bourges?
On paper, Bourges earns 312% 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 Playa del Carmen vs Bourges?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $770 in Bourges. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Bourges?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $74.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Bourges?
All in, you'll spend $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,039 in Bourges โ a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Bourges?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,039 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bourges. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Bourges?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,262 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Bourges?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Bourges are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 62% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared