😐A single person spends $3,236 per month in Franklin, TN vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,338 per month in Franklin, TN vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,439 per month in Franklin, TN vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Franklin, TN costs about 150% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Franklin, TN sits 142% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.26$28.26
$11.73MX$203
140.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6$78.6
$41.62MX$721
88.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.77$11.77
$10.64MX$184
10.62%
Cappuccino
$6.79$6.79
$3.52MX$61.0
92.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11$3.11
$1.51MX$26.17
105.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$0.97MX$16.87
155.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.46$7.46
$2.95MX$51.1
152.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.91$7.91
$4.45MX$77.2
77.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34$1.34
$1.38MX$23.97
-2.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.93$3.93
$1.89MX$32.78
107.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.29$4.29
$1.64MX$28.37
161.59%
Eggs
$5.60$5.60
$2.51MX$43.42
123.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.54$15.54
$8.34MX$145
86.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.16$11.16
$8.34MX$145
33.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.29$15.29
$10.73MX$186
42.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84$3.84
$2.60MX$45.12
47.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98$1.98
$1.46MX$25.25
35.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$1.90MX$32.94
117.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58$4.58
$2.08MX$35.98
120.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01$2.01
$1.78MX$30.77
12.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17$2.17
$2.19MX$37.87
-0.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52$2.52
$1.04MX$18.02
142.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$1.08MX$18.66
95.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81$9.81
$4.08MX$70.7
140.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.90$12.90
$10.32MX$179
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.71MX$29.67
4.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27$3.27
$2.58MX$44.63
26.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03$1.03
$0.51MX$8.83
101.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$459
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51$3.51
$3.26MX$56.5
7.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$2.49MX$43.17
-34.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.70$29.70
$3.25MX$56.3
813.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$1.31MX$22.65
-38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K$29.9K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
8.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216$216
$82.9MX$1,436
160.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$117$117
$22.22MX$385
426.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4$74.4
$29.34MX$508
153.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.79$41.79
$51.6MX$895
-19.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.75$15.75
$5.07MX$87.8
210.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$400$400
$201MX$3,480
99.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1K$23.1K
$5,212MX$90.3K
343.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7$50.7
$36.92MX$640
37.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1$65.1
$39.79MX$689
63.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6$73.6
$78.5MX$1,360
-6.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$87.1MX$1,509
27.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,750$1,750
$973MX$16.9K
79.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,781$1,781
$468MX$8,105
280.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,685$2,685
$1,641MX$28.4K
63.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,379$2,379
$1,221MX$21.2K
94.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,774$2,774
$3,946MX$68.4K
-29.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,804$2,804
$6,498MX$112.6K
-56.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Franklin, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,115$6,115
$664MX$11.5K
820.99%
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 Franklin, TN: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,750 in Franklin, 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 821% higher in Franklin, 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 Franklin, TN versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 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
Franklin, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Franklin, TN and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,236 in Franklin, TN, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 150% apart. Franklin, TN costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Franklin, TN compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,855 per month in Franklin, TN and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Franklin, TN and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Franklin, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,236 in Franklin, TN and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Franklin, TN and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Franklin, TN and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Franklin, TN at $3,236. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Franklin, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Franklin, TN and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $3,236 in Franklin, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Franklin, TN or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Franklin, TN and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Franklin, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Franklin, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared