Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Campinas

For one person, living is cheaper in Campinas: $952 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Campinas, Brazil
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Campinas
🇧🇷 Brazil
$952
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Campinas

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 Campinas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $952 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Campinas $952

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,625 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Campinas $1,625

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,298 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Campinas $2,298

Playa del Carmen costs about 27% more than Campinas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Campinas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Campinas 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$9.20 R$49.18
18.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$33.96 R$182
27.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$8.22 R$43.94
43.31%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$2.11 R$11.26
80.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.89
$1.20 R$6.42
6.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.58
$0.84 R$4.49
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$2.28 R$12.21
39.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$3.73 R$19.97
32.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.20
$1.00 R$5.34
41.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.30
$1.95 R$10.41
13.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.40
$1.23 R$6.56
15.45%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.00
$2.32 R$12.39
8.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$10.20 R$54.6
-28.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$4.62 R$24.73
66.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$9.64 R$51.5
31.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$2.21 R$11.81
25.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.49
$1.59 R$8.49
-13.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.52
$1.42 R$7.61
79.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.55
$1.26 R$6.75
68.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.11
$1.16 R$6.22
67.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.13
$1.15 R$6.16
64.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.36
$0.93 R$4.95
23.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.96
$0.80 R$4.28
47.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$2.26 R$12.06
90.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$7.48 R$40.02
33.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.50
$1.46 R$7.81
8.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.76
$2.41 R$12.90
10.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$1.02 R$5.45
-46.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$41.49 R$222
-35.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$1.10 R$5.88
351.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$0.67 R$3.61
397.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$8.23 R$44.02
-34.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.90
$1.21 R$6.44
19.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.0K
$22.0K R$117.5K
-5.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.2K
$31.5K R$168.7K
-25.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,580
$61.2 R$327
38.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$13.70 R$73.2
70.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$21.56 R$115
32.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$26.99 R$144
111.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$34.77 R$186
-16.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$7.35 R$39.30
-30.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,848
$402 R$2,148
-48.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$10.2K R$54.8K
-61.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$61.7 R$330
-29.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$52.4 R$280
-20.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,382
$82.2 R$439
-9.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,663
$73.5 R$393
21.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$482 R$2,576
103.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,095
$287 R$1,533
32.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$1,010 R$5,399
69.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$752 R$4,021
42.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$1,943 R$10.4K
102.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.7K
$1,227 R$6,562
401.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$534 R$2,854
37.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
10.81
5.92%

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 Campinas: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Campinas
$287 24.7% $94
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Campinas
$205 19.5% $50
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Campinas
$151 25.6% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Campinas
$96 29.5% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Campinas
$121 8.6% $9.7
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Campinas
$42 38.1% $26
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Campinas
$50 0.8% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $482 in Campinas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 38% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $34 in Campinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $205 – making Campinas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇧🇷 Campinas
🕒 Local time
22:09 10:09 PM
00:09 12:09 AM
2 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
1,139,047
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 29, 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 Campinas 6,500 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Campinas

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 Campinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Campinas?
Playa del Carmen costs about 27% more than Campinas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Campinas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,428 in Campinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Campinas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Campinas, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Campinas?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Playa del Carmen, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Campinas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen and $34 in Campinas. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Playa del Carmen or in Campinas?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $952 in Campinas. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Campinas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Campinas costs $952 versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Campinas?
If budget matters most, go with Campinas. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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