😐A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,035 in Trou aux Biches, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,692 in Trou aux Biches, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,349 in Trou aux Biches, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 29% more than Trou aux Biches, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Trou aux Biches are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Trou aux Biches24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$6.47MUR 301
101.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$38.88MUR 1,808
18.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$7.39MUR 344
70.37%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$1.09MUR 50.6
266.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$0.88MUR 40.70
61.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$0.55MUR 25.54
47.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$2.10MUR 97.9
45.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$3.25MUR 151
109.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.57MUR 72.9
8.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$0.77MUR 36.02
188.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.12MUR 52.2
53.57%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.69MUR 125
0.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$5.43MUR 252
72.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$6.29MUR 292
40.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$11.24MUR 522
13.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$2.79MUR 130
12.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$2.60MUR 121
-40.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.47MUR 68.1
46.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$2.99MUR 139
-21.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.00MUR 46.42
102.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.02MUR 47.25
95.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.69MUR 31.92
79.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.90MUR 42.06
32.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$6.38MUR 297
-27.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$8.65MUR 402
21.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.71MUR 79.5
-7.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$2.37MUR 110
23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$4.16MUR 193
27.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$3.22MUR 150
15.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$21.08MUR 980
-72.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.40MUR 65.1
10.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$36.5KMUR 1.7M
-38.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$30.7KMUR 1.4M
-16.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$44.94MUR 2,089
98.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$10.44MUR 486
123.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$29.54MUR 1,373
7.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$32.43MUR 1,508
112.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$6.56MUR 305
-22.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$127MUR 5,900
75.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$7,593MUR 353.0K
-43.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$79.5MUR 3,694
-41.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$73.8MUR 3,430
-39.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$120MUR 5,563
-20.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$76.6MUR 3,561
20.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$571MUR 26.5K
87.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$405MUR 18.8K
-2.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$1,134MUR 52.7K
75.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$853MUR 39.7K
52.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Trou aux Biches
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
6.67
73.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Trou aux Biches: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $571 in Trou aux Biches. 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.00 in Trou aux Biches. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $220 – making Trou aux Biches 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 Trou aux Biches: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trou aux Biches cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,552 in Trou aux Biches. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Trou aux Biches, 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 and in Trou aux Biches?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Playa del Carmen and $1,035 in Trou aux Biches. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $127 in Trou aux Biches. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Trou aux Biches?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Trou aux Biches, where all-in costs run around $1,035, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Trou aux Biches it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Trou aux Biches more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Trou aux Biches – 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 Trou aux Biches?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Trou aux Biches. 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