Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,517 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,681 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,845 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Chattanooga, TN costs about 94% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chattanooga, TN sits 88% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.63 $16.63

$11.73 MX$203

41.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$41.62 MX$719

88.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 $11.17

$10.64 MX$184

4.98%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$3.52 MX$60.8

36.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.51 MX$26.09

70.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.97 MX$16.82

113.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.95 MX$51.0

109.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.62 $7.62

$4.45 MX$77.0

71.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.38 MX$23.90

-27.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.89 MX$32.69

91.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$1.64 MX$28.29

187.20%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.51 MX$43.30

68.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 $13.85

$8.34 MX$144

66.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 $13.67

$8.34 MX$144

63.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$10.73 MX$185

19.48%

Apples (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$2.60 MX$45.00

148.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.46 MX$25.18

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.90 MX$32.84

122.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.08 MX$35.88

74.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.78 MX$30.68

87.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.19 MX$37.76

54.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.04 MX$17.97

119.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.08 MX$18.60

181.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.29 $7.29

$4.08 MX$70.5

78.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.72 $15.72

$10.32 MX$178

52.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.71 MX$29.59

15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.58 MX$44.50

38.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.05 $4.05

$0.51 MX$8.81

694.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 $50.1

$26.46 MX$457

89.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.26 MX$56.4

-46.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.49 MX$43.05

-36.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.68 $23.68

$3.25 MX$56.1

628.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.31 MX$22.59

-40.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K $24.7K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-18.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

8.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$141 $141

$82.9 MX$1,432

70.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$22.22 MX$384

156.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$29.34 MX$507

142.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.18 $40.18

$51.6 MX$892

-22.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 $12.61

$5.07 MX$87.5

148.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,009 $1,009

$201 MX$3,470

402.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

385.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 $42.01

$36.92 MX$638

13.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.83 $31.83

$39.79 MX$688

-20.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$78.5 MX$1,356

23.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$87.1 MX$1,505

29.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 $1,491

$973 MX$16.8K

53.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 $1,269

$468 MX$8,082

171.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,630 $3,630

$1,641 MX$28.4K

121.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,164 $2,164

$1,221 MX$21.1K

77.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,281 $2,281

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-42.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,241 $2,241

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-65.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,918 $3,918

$664 MX$11.5K

490.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.42

-43.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,491 in Chattanooga, TN 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.

Salaries run about 490% higher in Chattanooga, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $249 – 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

Chattanooga, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chattanooga, TN costs about 94% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,776 per month in Chattanooga, TN and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,517 in Chattanooga, TN and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 89% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Chattanooga, TN at $2,517. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chattanooga, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $2,517 in Chattanooga, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chattanooga, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.