😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,080 in Campina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,611 in Campina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,142 in Campina.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 16% more expensive than in Campina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Campina19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$10.03RON 45.78
19.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$731
$42.84RON 196
-2.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$188
$6.92RON 31.60
55.35%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.1
$2.65RON 12.10
32.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.33
$1.96RON 8.96
-26.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.47
$1.73RON 7.92
-49.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.6
$2.37RON 10.81
24.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.9
$3.36RON 15.34
34.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.04
$1.46RON 6.68
-2.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.13
$1.17RON 5.33
57.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.42
$1.57RON 7.18
-
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.92
$3.34RON 15.24
-24.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$8.60RON 39.27
-3.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.98RON 31.87
20.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$8.80RON 40.16
21.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.62
$1.20RON 5.49
117.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.15
$1.42RON 6.49
1.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.31
$1.29RON 5.88
51.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.62
$2.23RON 10.16
-6.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.37
$0.81RON 3.71
128.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.90
$0.87RON 3.98
149.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.04
$1.06RON 4.86
-2.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.78
$0.89RON 4.06
20.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.7
$5.89RON 26.91
-30.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$6.96RON 31.78
46.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.29
$0.93RON 4.24
80.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.17
$1.43RON 6.53
76.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.95RON 4.35
-46.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$455
$20.18RON 92.1
29.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$0.78RON 3.56
314.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.06
$0.75RON 3.42
221.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$5.91RON 26.99
-45.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.10
$1.60RON 7.29
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$519.2K
$24.5KRON 111.6K
21.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$413.7K
$26.7KRON 121.7K
-11.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,434
$141RON 642
-41.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$401
$8.86RON 40.44
159.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$527
$11.45RON 52.3
162.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$909
$63.3RON 289
-17.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$324
$19.37RON 88.4
-4.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.0
$6.73RON 30.70
-26.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,452
$418RON 1,906
-52.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.3K
$6,921RON 31.6K
-22.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$622
$84.2RON 384
-57.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$705
$43.34RON 198
-6.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,377
$85.1RON 388
-7.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$98.4RON 449
-9.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$392RON 1,789
141.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,288
$290RON 1,325
63.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.7K
$578RON 2,639
184.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$433RON 1,977
179.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.9K
$1,992RON 9,091
103.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.1K
$1,402RON 6,402
361.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$713RON 3,256
-8.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.5
75.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Campina: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $392 in Campina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Campina pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $43.00 in Campina. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $204, with Campina cheaper for home cooking.
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 16% 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?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Campina. 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 compared to Campina?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $392 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 $43.00 versus $42.00 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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,080 in Campina – a 16% 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 $1,080 in Campina versus $1,256 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 $1,080 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 16% 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