Cost of Living Comparison Between Gafsa and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Gafsa and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $578 per month in Gafsa vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $884 per month in Gafsa vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Gafsa vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gafsa is about 55% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gafsa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Gafsa 57% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 TND 11.47

$11.73 MX$203

-66.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.86 TND 28.63

$41.62 MX$720

-76.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.61 TND 7.59

$10.64 MX$184

-75.47%

Cappuccino

$0.61 TND 1.77

$3.52 MX$60.9

-82.67%

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

$0.52 TND 1.52

$1.51 MX$26.12

-65.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 TND 0.66

$0.97 MX$16.84

-76.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 TND 4.82

$2.95 MX$51.0

-43.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 TND 7.99

$4.45 MX$77.0

-38.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.46 TND 1.33

$1.38 MX$23.93

-66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.14 TND 0.41

$1.89 MX$32.72

-92.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 TND 4.96

$1.64 MX$28.32

4.27%

Eggs

$1.01 TND 2.93

$2.51 MX$43.34

-59.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 TND 30.30

$8.34 MX$144

25.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 TND 17.34

$8.34 MX$144

-28.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 TND 33.06

$10.73 MX$186

6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 TND 4.13

$2.60 MX$45.04

-45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 TND 9.32

$1.46 MX$25.20

119.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 TND 2.35

$1.90 MX$32.87

-57.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 TND 2.21

$2.08 MX$35.91

-63.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 TND 2.20

$1.78 MX$30.71

-57.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 TND 1.51

$2.19 MX$37.80

-76.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 TND 1.34

$1.04 MX$17.99

-55.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 TND 0.87

$1.08 MX$18.62

-72.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 TND 7.22

$4.08 MX$70.6

-38.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.78 TND 22.58

$10.32 MX$178

-24.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 TND 3.84

$1.71 MX$29.61

-22.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 TND 4.75

$2.58 MX$44.54

-36.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 TND 1.02

$0.51 MX$8.81

-31.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.09 TND 32.21

$26.46 MX$458

-58.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 TND 0.84

$3.26 MX$56.4

-91.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.64

$2.49 MX$43.09

-91.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 TND 9.62

$3.25 MX$56.2

1.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 TND 2.58

$1.31 MX$22.61

-32.06%

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

$39.2K TND 114.0K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

29.62%

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

$32.4K TND 94.0K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

38.13%

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

$40.97 TND 119

$82.9 MX$1,433

-50.56%

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

$8.71 TND 25.30

$22.22 MX$384

-60.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.21 TND 55.8

$29.34 MX$507

-34.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.27 TND 44.34

$51.6 MX$893

-70.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.58 TND 36.52

$18.32 MX$317

-31.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.32 TND 15.45

$5.07 MX$87.6

4.93%

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

$60.6 TND 176

$201 MX$3,473

-69.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,006 TND 2,920

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-80.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.91 TND 119

$36.92 MX$639

10.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 TND 155

$39.79 MX$688

33.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 TND 282

$78.5 MX$1,357

23.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 TND 234

$87.1 MX$1,506

-7.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 TND 415

$973 MX$16.8K

-85.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TND 292

$468 MX$8,090

-78.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 TND 614

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-87.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TND 437

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-87.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,014 TND 2,945

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-74.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$356 TND 1,034

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-94.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 TND 878

$664 MX$11.5K

-54.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

11.42

-22.24%

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

Last update for Gafsa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $143 in Gafsa 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 120% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $10.00 in Gafsa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $249 – making Gafsa 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

Gafsa vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 124%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $868 per month in Gafsa 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 Gafsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $60.6 per month in Gafsa and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Playa del Carmen, 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 Gafsa, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Gafsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gafsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Gafsa. 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.