Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in La Marsa vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in La Marsa vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,968 per month in La Marsa vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

La Marsa is about 41% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Marsa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 TND 9.56

$11.94 MX$209

-72.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.85 TND 63.2

$42.75 MX$748

-48.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.17 TND 12.04

$10.59 MX$185

-60.62%

Cappuccino

$0.71 TND 2.06

$3.62 MX$63.4

-80.39%

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

$0.64 TND 1.85

$1.47 MX$25.69

-56.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 TND 0.66

$0.94 MX$16.51

-75.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 TND 4.31

$3.09 MX$54.1

-51.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 TND 7.26

$4.46 MX$78.0

-43.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.50 TND 1.45

$1.43 MX$24.94

-65.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.53

$1.88 MX$32.97

-90.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 TND 4.34

$1.63 MX$28.50

-7.98%

Eggs

$1.63 TND 4.70

$2.64 MX$46.26

-38.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 TND 32.35

$8.21 MX$144

36.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TND 16.85

$8.29 MX$145

-29.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 TND 38.52

$11.10 MX$194

20.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 TND 5.43

$2.65 MX$46.40

-29.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 TND 8.52

$1.50 MX$26.26

96.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TND 3.05

$1.99 MX$34.79

-46.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 TND 1.98

$2.08 MX$36.33

-66.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 TND 1.87

$1.79 MX$31.29

-63.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 TND 1.36

$2.18 MX$38.09

-78.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 TND 1.05

$1.08 MX$18.84

-66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.72

$1.04 MX$18.15

-75.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 TND 9.95

$3.97 MX$69.5

-13.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 TND 19.47

$10.20 MX$179

-33.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TND 3.31

$1.73 MX$30.22

-34.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 TND 3.06

$2.50 MX$43.71

-57.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 TND 1.03

$0.52 MX$9.07

-30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.69 TND 19.33

$26.97 MX$472

-75.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 TND 0.91

$3.14 MX$55.0

-90.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.64

$2.40 MX$42.04

-90.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 TND 11.62

$3.09 MX$54.0

30.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 TND 2.56

$1.27 MX$22.28

-29.92%

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

$34.4K TND 99.3K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

11.27%

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

$27.2K TND 78.5K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

16.52%

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

$34.35 TND 99.3

$82.0 MX$1,435

-58.11%

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

$9.48 TND 27.39

$22.45 MX$393

-57.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.92 TND 43.11

$29.66 MX$519

-49.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.19 TND 131

$51.9 MX$908

-12.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.53 TND 21.75

$18.67 MX$327

-59.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 TND 13.08

$4.97 MX$87.0

-9.05%

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

$86.2 TND 249

$198 MX$3,462

-56.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,347 TND 6,782

$5,273 MX$92.3K

-55.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.18 TND 131

$36.34 MX$636

24.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 TND 129

$40.05 MX$701

11.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 TND 261

$79.9 MX$1,398

13.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 TND 191

$88.9 MX$1,555

-25.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 TND 1,023

$963 MX$16.9K

-63.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 TND 816

$465 MX$8,133

-39.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 TND 2,239

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-51.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$808 TND 2,335

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-33.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,891 TND 5,465

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-52.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,061 TND 3,066

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-83.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$339 TND 981

$720 MX$12.6K

-52.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

11.42

19.09%

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

Last update for La Marsa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in La Marsa versus $963 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 112% 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 $22.00 in La Marsa versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $251 – making La Marsa 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 71%, 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 $1,129 per month in La Marsa and $1,930 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 La Marsa, 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 $753 in La Marsa and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 303% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In La Marsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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 La Marsa. 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.