๐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,798 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,778 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,758 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 30% cheaper than Saint-Genis-Pouilly, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Saint-Genis-Pouilly is 34% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$17.11โฌ14.60
-31.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$58.3โฌ49.69
-28.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$11.61โฌ9.91
-10.42%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$3.46โฌ2.95
4.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.70โฌ2.30
-45.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.86โฌ1.59
-51.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.84โฌ5.83
-55.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$5.89โฌ5.02
-24.11%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.30โฌ1.11
6.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$1.81โฌ1.54
1.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$2.65โฌ2.26
-39.25%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.10โฌ3.49
-37.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$18.73โฌ15.97
-54.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$13.36โฌ11.40
-36.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$21.03โฌ17.94
-47.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$2.98โฌ2.54
-8.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.17โฌ1.85
-30.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.75โฌ2.35
-28.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.52โฌ3.01
-39.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.26โฌ1.93
-17.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.50โฌ2.13
-13.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.53โฌ1.31
-30.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.72โฌ0.61
45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$13.51โฌ11.52
-68.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$8.55โฌ7.30
20.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.70โฌ2.31
-38.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.47โฌ2.96
-28.24%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.94โฌ1.65
-72.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$49.74โฌ42.43
-47.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$4.53โฌ3.86
-31.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.79โฌ1.53
37.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$36.24โฌ30.91
-91.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$2.06โฌ1.76
-38.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$37.6Kโฌ32.1K
-19.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$37.3Kโฌ31.8K
-37.10%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$190โฌ162
-55.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$22.99โฌ19.61
-3.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$33.37โฌ28.47
-11.15%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$38.29โฌ32.66
37.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$17.98โฌ15.34
2.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$13.93โฌ11.88
-64.47%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$781โฌ666
-74.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$8,469โฌ7,224
-37.17%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$102โฌ86.8
-64.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$38.59โฌ32.92
3.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$89.7โฌ76.5
-12.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$141โฌ120
-38.60%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$783โฌ668
24.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$627โฌ535
-24.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,390โฌ1,185
14.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,072โฌ914
13.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$4,330โฌ3,693
-6.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$3,048โฌ2,600
115.83%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$3,477โฌ2,966
-79.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.63
214.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Saint-Genis-Pouilly: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $783 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 387% higher in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $58 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $365 โ making Playa del Carmen 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 Saint-Genis-Pouilly: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint-Genis-Pouilly cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Saint-Genis-Pouilly is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,697 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Saint-Genis-Pouilly?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $1,798 in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 89% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Saint-Genis-Pouilly?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Saint-Genis-Pouilly at $1,798. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint-Genis-Pouilly it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Saint-Genis-Pouilly more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Saint-Genis-Pouilly?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint-Genis-Pouilly makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared