Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Campina Grande

For one person, living is cheaper in Campina Grande: $708 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Campina Grande, Brazil
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Campina Grande
🇧🇷 Brazil
$708
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Campina Grande

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Campina Grande actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $708 in Campina Grande.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Campina Grande $708

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,100 in Campina Grande.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Campina Grande $1,100

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,492 in Campina Grande.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Campina Grande $1,492

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 70% more expensive than in Campina Grande, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Campina Grande 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$4.11 R$21.97
165.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$27.58 R$147
57.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$6.70 R$35.80
75.82%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$0.97 R$5.19
292.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$1.00 R$5.35
28.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$0.54 R$2.90
44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$1.52 R$8.12
108.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$2.09 R$11.19
135.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.11 R$5.92
27.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$1.55 R$8.31
43.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$1.00 R$5.34
42.00%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$1.82 R$9.73
38.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$6.50 R$34.78
11.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$3.98 R$21.28
93.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$7.30 R$39.04
73.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$1.33 R$7.09
109.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$1.31 R$6.99
4.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$0.76 R$4.04
235.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$1.18 R$6.29
79.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$1.15 R$6.13
68.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$1.01 R$5.38
87.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$0.45 R$2.40
155.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$0.70 R$3.73
68.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$1.66 R$8.85
159.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$7.40 R$39.57
34.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$1.09 R$5.84
44.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$1.45 R$7.77
84.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$0.90 R$4.81
-38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$37.89 R$203
-29.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$0.80 R$4.27
521.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$0.72 R$3.85
362.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$3.21 R$17.14
66.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$1.18 R$6.34
22.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$18.3K R$98.0K
12.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$32.4K R$173.1K
-27.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$110 R$587
-22.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$9.49 R$50.7
146.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$16.46 R$88.0
74.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$17.72 R$94.7
221.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$27.84 R$149
3.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$4.54 R$24.28
13.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$79.7 R$426
159.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$11.3K R$60.2K
-65.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$34.85 R$186
24.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$25.56 R$137
62.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$68.1 R$364
8.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$39.62 R$212
125.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$242 R$1,295
304.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$180 R$961
111.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$571 R$3,055
198.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$335 R$1,793
220.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Campina Grande
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$367 R$1,964
100.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5
129.00%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Campina Grande: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Campina Grande
$180 52.8% $201
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Campina Grande
$161 36.7% $93
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Campina Grande
$83 59.2% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Campina Grande
$136 0.8% $1.1
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Campina Grande
$76 32.3% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Campina Grande
$27 60.2% $41
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Campina Grande
$46 9% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $242 in Campina Grande. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 100% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $28 in Campina Grande for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $161 per month, with Campina Grande cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇧🇷 Campina Grande
🕒 Local time
09:21 9:21 AM
11:21 11:21 AM
2 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
419,379
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Campina Grande 6,390 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Campina Grande

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Campina Grande: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Campina Grande cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Campina Grande is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and leisure. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Campina Grande?
Average pay runs 100% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Campina Grande?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $242 in Campina Grande. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Campina Grande?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina Grande – a meal for two runs $28 versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Campina Grande?
All in, you’ll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $708 in Campina Grande – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Campina Grande?
At $708 in Campina Grande versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Campina Grande but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Campina Grande the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Campina Grande?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Campina Grande wins on affordability, Playa del Carmen on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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