Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Campina Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Campina

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Carmen 7% lower, Campina 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$199
$11.14 RON 51.1
4.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$809
$44.53 RON 204
5.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$204
$7.55 RON 34.63
57.35%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.2
$3.10 RON 14.20
28.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.49
$2.15 RON 9.87
-33.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.16
$1.90 RON 8.71
-56.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.7
$2.73 RON 12.51
16.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$3.53 RON 16.18
92.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.76
$1.67 RON 7.65
0.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.71
$1.21 RON 5.57
81.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.32
$1.50 RON 6.89
14.00%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.05
$3.70 RON 16.98
-25.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$164
$8.43 RON 38.67
13.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$6.72 RON 30.81
34.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$220
$8.10 RON 37.12
58.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.58
$1.37 RON 6.28
110.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.70
$1.64 RON 7.51
-8.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.87
$1.51 RON 6.93
42.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.79
$2.72 RON 12.47
-16.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.00
$0.77 RON 3.55
157.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.15
$0.65 RON 2.98
206.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.18
$1.04 RON 4.78
18.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.54
$0.93 RON 4.28
29.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.1
$6.45 RON 29.58
-29.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$178
$7.08 RON 32.46
46.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.79
$1.03 RON 4.71
57.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.44
$1.42 RON 6.52
102.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.30
$0.90 RON 4.14
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$494
$22.29 RON 102
29.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.5
$0.79 RON 3.63
582.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.0
$0.84 RON 3.87
344.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.0
$6.63 RON 30.38
-12.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.37
$1.87 RON 8.58
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$387.0K
$29.9K RON 137.1K
-24.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$447.3K
$26.7K RON 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)
$91.4 MX$1,569
$120 RON 550
-23.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$433
$7.23 RON 33.14
248.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$536
$11.97 RON 54.9
160.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,154
$56.3 RON 258
19.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$500
$17.86 RON 81.9
62.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.5
$7.09 RON 32.53
-31.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,839
$413 RON 1,891
-45.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.6K
$6,046 RON 27.7K
-30.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$808
$79.0 RON 362
-40.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$760
$44.87 RON 206
-1.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,375
$94.8 RON 435
-15.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,591
$99.3 RON 455
-6.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.2K
$247 RON 1,131
330.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,698
$188 RON 864
107.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$36.9K
$358 RON 1,641
500.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.8K
$309 RON 1,417
311.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.7K
$1,912 RON 8,766
109.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$111.6K
$1,391 RON 6,378
367.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Campina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.0K
$750 RON 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.

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