😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,016 in Campinas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,659 in Campinas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,302 in Campinas, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 28% more than Campinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Campinas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Campinas26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$9.34R$47.88
28.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$33.86R$174
39.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$8.36R$42.87
40.55%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$2.29R$11.72
79.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.32R$6.76
6.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.87R$4.45
4.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$2.36R$12.08
36.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.77R$19.34
87.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.08R$5.54
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$2.08R$10.68
3.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.30R$6.64
36.15%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$2.55R$13.08
10.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$11.46R$58.7
-19.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$4.96R$25.42
86.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$10.36R$53.1
22.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$2.33R$11.93
26.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.72R$8.81
-8.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.55R$7.95
43.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$1.45R$7.45
62.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.24R$6.37
60.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.16R$5.93
70.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.97R$4.99
27.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.82R$4.22
47.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$2.37R$12.16
94.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$8.26R$42.33
27.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.48R$7.60
14.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.53R$12.98
9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$1.10R$5.65
-45.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$42.68R$219
-30.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$1.19R$6.12
340.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.76R$3.92
380.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$8.53R$43.73
-32.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.31R$6.69
17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$23.2KR$118.7K
-1.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$31.5KR$161.5K
-18.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$63.4R$325
42.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$15.78R$80.9
59.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$21.87R$112
45.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$29.44R$151
133.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$36.34R$186
-19.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$7.70R$39.45
-36.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$426R$2,185
-47.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$9,950R$51.0K
-57.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$66.0R$338
-28.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$55.6R$285
-21.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$93.4R$479
-14.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$82.6R$423
10.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$419R$2,148
159.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$294R$1,508
38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$941R$4,822
109.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$672R$3,444
90.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$2,103R$10.8K
92.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$1,236R$6,336
442.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Campinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$616R$3,158
25.53%
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: September 7, 2026
Last update for Campinas: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $419 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 26% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Campinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $222 – making Campinas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 28% more than Campinas, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,524 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Campinas?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Campinas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $34.00 in Campinas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Campinas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Campinas, where all-in costs run around $1,016, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Campinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Campinas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Campinas costs $1,016 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but 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, better infrastructure, 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