😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $983 in Campina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,547 in Campina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,112 in Campina.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 29% more expensive than in Campina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Campina28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$11.14RON 51.1
4.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$44.53RON 204
5.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$7.55RON 34.63
57.35%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$3.10RON 14.20
28.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$2.15RON 9.87
-33.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$1.90RON 8.71
-56.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$2.73RON 12.51
16.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.53RON 16.18
92.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$1.67RON 7.65
0.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$1.21RON 5.57
81.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$1.50RON 6.89
14.00%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$3.70RON 16.98
-25.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$8.43RON 38.67
13.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.72RON 30.81
34.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$8.10RON 37.12
58.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$1.37RON 6.28
110.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$1.64RON 7.51
-8.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$1.51RON 6.93
42.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$2.72RON 12.47
-16.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$0.77RON 3.55
157.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$0.65RON 2.98
206.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$1.04RON 4.78
18.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$0.93RON 4.28
29.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$6.45RON 29.58
-29.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$7.08RON 32.46
46.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$1.03RON 4.71
57.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$1.42RON 6.52
102.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$0.90RON 4.14
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$22.29RON 102
29.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$0.79RON 3.63
582.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$0.84RON 3.87
344.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$6.63RON 30.38
-12.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$1.87RON 8.58
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$29.9KRON 137.1K
-24.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$26.7KRON 122.4K
-2.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$120RON 550
-23.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$7.23RON 33.14
248.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$11.97RON 54.9
160.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
$56.3RON 258
19.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
$17.86RON 81.9
62.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$7.09RON 32.53
-31.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$413RON 1,891
-45.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$6,046RON 27.7K
-30.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$79.0RON 362
-40.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$44.87RON 206
-1.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$94.8RON 435
-15.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$99.3RON 455
-6.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$247RON 1,131
330.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$188RON 864
107.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$358RON 1,641
500.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$309RON 1,417
311.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
$1,912RON 8,766
109.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
$1,391RON 6,378
367.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
$750RON 3,439
1.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.02
63.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Campina: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $247 in Campina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 1% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $45.00 in Campina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $210 per month, with Campina 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 Campina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Campina?
Campina wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Campina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Campina?
Average pay runs 1% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Campina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $247 in Campina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Campina?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Campina?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $983 in Campina – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Campina?
At $983 in Campina versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Campina but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Campina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Campina?
Both work as nomad bases, but Campina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $983 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Campina hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Campina?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Campina 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 Campina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Playa del Carmen. 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