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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,278 in Columbia, TN versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,441 in Columbia, TN versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Columbia, TN versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Columbia, TN is roughly 77% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Columbia, TN is 70% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 $12.14

$11.94 MX$208

1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 $61.2

$42.75 MX$744

43.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.04 $10.04

$10.59 MX$184

-5.19%

Cappuccino

$3.99 $3.99

$3.62 MX$63.0

10.22%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$1.47 MX$25.54

52.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.94 MX$16.41

68.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$3.09 MX$53.8

98.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.46 MX$77.6

67.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.43 MX$24.80

-32.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.88 MX$32.79

47.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.63 MX$28.34

180.37%

Eggs

$2.67 $2.67

$2.64 MX$45.99

1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 $11.38

$8.21 MX$143

38.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$8.29 MX$144

-19.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 $13.47

$11.10 MX$193

21.35%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$2.65 MX$46.14

136.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.50 MX$26.11

-17.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$1.99 MX$34.59

174.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.08 MX$36.13

95.67%

Potato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.79 MX$31.11

182.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.18 MX$37.87

55.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.08 MX$18.73

114.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.04 MX$18.04

126.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.88 $7.88

$3.97 MX$69.1

98.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.32 $14.32

$10.20 MX$178

40.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.73 MX$30.04

2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.50 MX$43.46

-26.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.52 MX$9.02

296.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.14 MX$54.7

-35.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.40 MX$41.80

-44.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.64 $19.64

$3.09 MX$53.7

535.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.27 MX$22.16

-34.65%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

4.93%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

15.85%

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

$156 $156

$82.0 MX$1,427

90.49%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$22.45 MX$391

158.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 $67.6

$29.66 MX$516

127.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.45 $35.45

$51.9 MX$903

-31.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$4.97 MX$86.5

143.66%

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

$595 $595

$198 MX$3,442

200.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.3K $27.3K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

417.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.31 $39.31

$36.34 MX$632

8.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.67 $32.67

$40.05 MX$697

-18.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 $73.9

$79.9 MX$1,390

-7.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 $90.5

$88.9 MX$1,547

1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,388 $1,388

$963 MX$16.8K

44.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,231 $1,231

$465 MX$8,086

164.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,533 $2,533

$1,596 MX$27.8K

58.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,304 $2,304

$1,209 MX$21.0K

90.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,470 $2,470

$720 MX$12.5K

242.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

11.42

-42.82%

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

Last update for Columbia, TN: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,388 in Columbia, TN and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Columbia, TN pays 243% 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: $61.0 in Columbia, TN vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

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

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Columbia, TN pays 243% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,388 in Columbia, TN versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $595 in Columbia, TN versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $61.0 in Columbia, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,278 in Columbia, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Columbia, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Columbia, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Columbia, TN and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Columbia, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.