🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,408 in Noumea.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,697 in Noumea.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,985 in Noumea.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 47% less than in Noumea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Noumea is 80% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$14.80CFPF 1,510
-19.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$98.1CFPF 10.0K
-56.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$14.40CFPF 1,469
-26.46%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$5.85CFPF 597
-38.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.38CFPF 243
-38.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.07CFPF 109
-12.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$11.06CFPF 1,128
-72.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$7.38CFPF 753
-39.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.23CFPF 125
16.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$3.03CFPF 309
-37.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.98CFPF 202
-17.68%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$5.56CFPF 567
-52.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$18.85CFPF 1,923
-56.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$22.77CFPF 2,323
-63.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$26.08CFPF 2,661
-57.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$4.33CFPF 442
-38.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$7.20CFPF 734
-79.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$6.66CFPF 679
-70.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$7.38CFPF 754
-71.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$3.72CFPF 380
-51.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$3.27CFPF 333
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.93CFPF 299
-63.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.45CFPF 148
-28.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$20.37CFPF 2,079
-80.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$17.98CFPF 1,835
-43.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$5.30CFPF 541
-67.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$5.98CFPF 611
-58.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$2.88CFPF 294
-81.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$62.1CFPF 6,333
-56.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$5.54CFPF 565
-43.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.04CFPF 106
130.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$25.29CFPF 2,581
-87.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.67CFPF 171
-23.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$34.4KCFPF 3.5M
-10.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$40.5KCFPF 4.1M
-42.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$209CFPF 21.3K
-60.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$40.51CFPF 4,134
-44.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$57.9CFPF 5,912
-48.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$61.6CFPF 6,285
-15.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$7.86CFPF 802
137.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$12.91CFPF 1,318
-61.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$800CFPF 81.6K
-75.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
-
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$110CFPF 11.2K
-66.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$58.0CFPF 5,922
-30.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$121CFPF 12.4K
-34.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$243CFPF 24.8K
-63.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$788CFPF 80.4K
22.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$788CFPF 80.4K
-41.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,626CFPF 165.9K
-1.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$1,353CFPF 138.1K
-10.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$5,146CFPF 525.1K
-23.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,944CFPF 402.4K
63.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Noumea
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$2,807CFPF 286.4K
-74.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
2.33
390.13%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Noumea: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $788 in Noumea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Noumea pays 290% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $98.0 in Noumea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $571 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Noumea: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Noumea cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Noumea?
On paper, Noumea earns 290% less. 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 Noumea?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $788 in Noumea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Noumea?
Supermarket bills run roughly 128% higher in Noumea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Noumea?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $98.0 in Noumea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Noumea?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,408 in Noumea, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Noumea. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Noumea more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Noumea, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Noumea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado