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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,557 per month in Cookeville, TN vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,115 per month in Cookeville, TN vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,673 per month in Cookeville, TN vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Cookeville, TN costs about 97% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Cookeville, TN sits 91% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.19 $21.19

$11.73 MX$205

80.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.51 $49.51

$41.62 MX$727

18.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 $8.13

$10.64 MX$186

-23.59%

Cappuccino

$4.57 $4.57

$3.52 MX$61.5

29.83%

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

$6.38 $6.38

$1.51 MX$26.37

322.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.97 MX$17.00

79.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.95 MX$51.5

102.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.45 MX$77.8

-8.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.38 MX$24.16

-18.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.89 MX$33.04

-43.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.64 MX$28.59

101.22%

Eggs

$4.11 $4.11

$2.51 MX$43.76

63.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.19 $12.19

$8.34 MX$146

46.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.27 $7.27

$8.34 MX$146

-12.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$10.73 MX$187

43.24%

Apples (1kg)

$8.88 $8.88

$2.60 MX$45.48

241.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.46 MX$25.45

15.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.90 MX$33.19

41.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.08 MX$36.26

58.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.78 MX$31.01

4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.19 MX$38.16

5.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.04 MX$18.16

119.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.08 MX$18.80

142.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.75 $13.75

$4.08 MX$71.3

237.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$10.32 MX$180

17.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.71 MX$29.90

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.58 MX$44.98

53.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.51 MX$8.90

280.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.26 MX$57.0

87.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 $0.64

$2.49 MX$43.51

-74.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.76 $29.76

$3.25 MX$56.7

815.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.31 MX$22.83

-42.75%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$30.3K MX$528.8K

16.70%

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

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.4K MX$409.2K

66.59%

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

$329 $329

$82.9 MX$1,447

297.38%

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

$44.63 $44.63

$22.22 MX$388

100.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 $104

$29.34 MX$512

254.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.08 $35.08

$51.6 MX$902

-32.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.80 $37.80

$18.32 MX$320

106.33%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 $12.12

$5.07 MX$88.5

139.05%

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

$752 $752

$201 MX$3,507

274.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$5,212 MX$91.0K

344.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.92 $44.92

$36.92 MX$645

21.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 $66.0

$39.79 MX$695

65.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 $136

$78.5 MX$1,370

72.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$87.1 MX$1,521

58.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 $1,209

$973 MX$17.0K

24.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 $1,218

$468 MX$8,169

160.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,526 $3,526

$1,641 MX$28.7K

114.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,824 $2,824

$1,221 MX$21.3K

131.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,753 $2,753

$3,946 MX$68.9K

-30.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,238 $2,238

$6,498 MX$113.5K

-65.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,844 $2,844

$664 MX$11.6K

328.37%

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 Cookeville, TN: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,209 in Cookeville, 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 328% higher in Cookeville, 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 $50.0 in Cookeville, TN versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 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

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

Cookeville, TN costs about 97% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,835 per month in Cookeville, 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Cookeville, TN and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Cookeville, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Cookeville, TN at $2,557. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cookeville, 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 $2,557 in Cookeville, 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, Cookeville, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.