Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Chartres

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,745 in Chartres, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Chartres, France
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Chartres
🇫🇷 France
$1,745
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,745 in Chartres, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Chartres $1,745

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,654 in Chartres, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Chartres $2,654

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,562 in Chartres, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Chartres $3,562

Playa del Carmen is about 31% cheaper than Chartres, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Chartres is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$14.66 €13.14
-25.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$815
$49.78 €44.61
-12.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$10.72 €9.60
9.89%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.6
$2.65 €2.38
43.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.10
$3.10 €2.78
-58.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.71
$1.53 €1.37
-49.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$8.61 €7.71
-63.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$5.68 €5.09
-13.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.43
$1.35 €1.21
4.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.66
$1.74 €1.56
27.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.64
$2.57 €2.30
-44.75%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.41
$3.98 €3.57
-36.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$137
$10.19 €9.13
-28.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$145
$11.82 €10.59
-34.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$239
$16.18 €14.50
-21.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$3.08 €2.76
-9.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.71
$3.14 €2.82
-56.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.94
$1.46 €1.30
74.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.90
$4.31 €3.86
-50.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.43
$1.80 €1.61
7.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.44
$2.09 €1.87
-9.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.55
$1.64 €1.47
-29.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.16
$0.13 €0.12
807.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.7
$12.69 €11.37
-66.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$5.52 €4.95
80.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.76
$1.40 €1.25
12.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.2
$1.57 €1.41
70.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.40
$1.97 €1.76
-72.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$49.28 €44.16
-45.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.4
$2.33 €2.08
113.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.6
$1.11 €1.00
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$32.85 €29.44
-83.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.14
$2.17 €1.94
-33.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.4K
$16.9K €15.2K
22.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$441.0K
$23.9K €21.4K
-1.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,594
$203 €181
-58.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$440
$21.60 €19.36
8.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$539
$32.27 €28.91
-11.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,072
$35.65 €31.94
60.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$13.16 €11.79
119.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.6
$15.46 €13.86
-66.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,882
$886 €794
-76.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.8K
$12.0K €10.8K
-67.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$815
$128 €115
-66.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$779
$46.44 €41.61
-10.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,394
$102 €91.1
-27.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,677
$97.5 €87.4
-8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$756 €677
29.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,157
$639 €573
-40.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$1,445 €1,295
18.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$1,170 €1,049
-8.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.1K
$4,188 €3,753
-5.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.7K
$2,043 €1,830
201.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chartres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.9
193.59%

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 Chartres: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Chartres
$639 67.8% $258
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Chartres
$296 16.1% $41
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Chartres
$254 25.6% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Chartres
$256 87.3% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Chartres
$168 50.6% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Chartres
$67 1.1% $0.7
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Chartres
$65 28.9% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $756 in Chartres. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $50 in Chartres. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $296 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇫🇷 Chartres
🕒 Local time
22:21 10:21 PM
04:21 4:21 AM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
38,447
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.98 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Chartres 8,200 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Chartres

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 Chartres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Chartres?
Chartres costs about 45% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 Chartres?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,618 in Chartres. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Chartres?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chartres, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $756 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Chartres?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $886 in Chartres. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Chartres?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Chartres, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Chartres?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Chartres at $1,745. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chartres it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Chartres?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,745 in Chartres. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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