🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,323 in Constanta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,009 in Constanta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,696 in Constanta.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 1% less than in Constanta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Constanta4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$202
$13.10RON 59.2
-8.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$801
$67.5RON 305
-29.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$7.78RON 35.12
51.03%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$69.7
$3.31RON 14.95
24.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.66
$1.82RON 8.22
-23.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.43
$1.30RON 5.87
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.2
$2.16RON 9.75
48.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.24RON 14.65
118.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.35
$1.72RON 7.78
-2.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.36
$1.31RON 5.89
64.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.00
$1.74RON 7.88
1.72%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.60
$3.06RON 13.80
-7.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$8.96RON 40.47
2.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$156
$5.95RON 26.89
55.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$9.37RON 42.33
34.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$49.90
$1.36RON 6.15
116.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.70
$1.75RON 7.89
-9.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.58
$1.64RON 7.42
35.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$39.96
$2.74RON 12.38
-13.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.70
$1.02RON 4.63
95.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.47
$1.04RON 4.68
90.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$20.97
$1.05RON 4.74
18.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.48
$0.92RON 4.16
31.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$77.8
$6.55RON 29.56
-29.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$6.82RON 30.81
54.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.60
$1.07RON 4.82
57.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$46.91
$1.80RON 8.12
53.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.19
$0.63RON 2.85
-4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$502
$17.52RON 79.1
69.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.5
$0.85RON 3.82
516.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.7
$0.86RON 3.89
324.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.8
$7.86RON 35.48
-26.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.01
$1.85RON 8.36
-16.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.5K
$29.2KRON 131.9K
-21.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$436.5K
$25.5KRON 115.0K
1.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,533
$176RON 797
-48.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$426
$8.14RON 36.74
209.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$537
$8.72RON 39.40
264.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,163
$57.6RON 260
19.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$497
$14.22RON 64.2
106.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.2
$7.06RON 31.88
-31.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,816
$591RON 2,668
-61.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$70.9K
$8,122RON 36.7K
-48.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$801
$70.2RON 317
-32.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$735
$48.40RON 219
-10.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,356
$91.2RON 412
-11.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,545
$89.4RON 404
2.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$626RON 2,828
73.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,910
$491RON 2,216
-16.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.3K
$1,105RON 4,992
78.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$776RON 3,506
65.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.4K
$2,583RON 11.7K
56.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.4K
$2,100RON 9,485
219.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$1,001RON 4,520
-22.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.99
63.81%
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 Constanta: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $626 in Constanta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Constanta pays 29% 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 $68.0 in Constanta. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $215, with Constanta 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 Constanta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Constanta cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Constanta?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Constanta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Constanta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $626 in Constanta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Constanta?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $68.0 in Constanta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Constanta?
All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,323 in Constanta – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Constanta?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,323 in Constanta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Constanta. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Constanta more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Constanta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Constanta?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Constanta 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Constanta. 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