🙂A single person spends $649 per month in Beja vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,096 per month in Beja vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,543 per month in Beja vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Beja is about 50% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Beja and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Beja52% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94TND 11.40
$11.73MX$203
-66.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.76TND 48.53
$41.62MX$721
-59.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.89TND 14.17
$10.64MX$184
-54.04%
Cappuccino
$0.69TND 2.01
$3.52MX$61.0
-80.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55TND 1.60
$1.51MX$26.17
-63.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23TND 0.66
$0.97MX$16.87
-76.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.35
$2.95MX$51.1
-60.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65TND 4.77
$4.45MX$77.2
-62.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.42
$1.38MX$23.97
-64.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13TND 0.37
$1.89MX$32.78
-93.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27TND 3.67
$1.64MX$28.37
-22.56%
Eggs
$1.67TND 4.83
$2.51MX$43.42
-33.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.71TND 19.43
$8.34MX$145
-19.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.60TND 16.23
$8.34MX$145
-32.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63TND 39.46
$10.73MX$186
27.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58TND 4.59
$2.60MX$45.12
-39.23%
Banana(1kg)
$3.18TND 9.22
$1.46MX$25.25
117.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99TND 2.88
$1.90MX$32.94
-47.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62TND 1.80
$2.08MX$35.98
-70.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65TND 1.87
$1.78MX$30.77
-63.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60TND 1.73
$2.19MX$37.87
-72.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41TND 1.18
$1.04MX$18.02
-60.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$1.08MX$18.66
-71.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49TND 10.10
$4.08MX$70.7
-14.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.16TND 14.95
$10.32MX$179
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15TND 3.33
$1.71MX$29.67
-32.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04TND 3.01
$2.58MX$44.63
-59.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43TND 1.23
$0.51MX$8.83
-15.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.02TND 29.02
$26.46MX$459
-62.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.35TND 1.00
$3.26MX$56.5
-89.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.96
$2.49MX$43.17
-86.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02TND 17.44
$3.25MX$56.3
85.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75TND 2.17
$1.31MX$22.65
-42.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.7KTND 135.1K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
54.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8KTND 106.7K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
57.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.0TND 145
$82.9MX$1,436
-39.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.23TND 32.52
$22.22MX$385
-49.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.11TND 52.4
$29.34MX$508
-38.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.13TND 61.2
$51.6MX$895
-59.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.65TND 68.5
$18.32MX$317
29.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40TND 18.54
$5.07MX$87.8
26.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.0TND 179
$201MX$3,480
-69.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,242TND 3,597
$5,212MX$90.3K
-76.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.11TND 122
$36.92MX$640
14.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.9TND 173
$39.79MX$689
50.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128TND 370
$78.5MX$1,360
62.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7TND 236
$87.1MX$1,509
-6.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$200TND 580
$973MX$16.9K
-79.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138TND 399
$468MX$8,105
-70.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382TND 1,108
$1,641MX$28.4K
-76.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408TND 1,181
$1,221MX$21.2K
-66.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,159TND 3,357
$3,946MX$68.4K
-70.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$639TND 1,849
$6,498MX$112.6K
-90.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.42
5.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beja: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Beja versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $17.00 in Beja versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $249 – making Beja 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
Beja vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Beja or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 100% more than Beja, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Beja vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $973 per month in Beja and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Beja or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Beja vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 164% less in Beja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Beja and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $62.0 per month in Beja and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Beja or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beja, where all-in costs run around $649, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Beja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Beja or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beja costs $649 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Beja compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Beja or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Beja. 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.