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 $758 per month in La Marsa vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,346 per month in La Marsa vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in La Marsa vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

La Marsa is about 40% 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 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.35 TND 9.77

$11.87 MX$204

-71.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 TND 63.3

$42.90 MX$736

-49.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 TND 11.94

$10.65 MX$183

-61.60%

Cappuccino

$0.71 TND 2.07

$3.45 MX$59.2

-79.42%

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

$0.65 TND 1.89

$1.50 MX$25.81

-56.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.73

$0.95 MX$16.28

-73.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 TND 4.36

$3.03 MX$51.9

-50.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 TND 7.30

$4.61 MX$79.1

-45.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 TND 1.48

$1.38 MX$23.61

-63.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.54

$1.85 MX$31.70

-90.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 TND 4.39

$1.61 MX$27.65

-6.21%

Eggs

$1.59 TND 4.63

$2.59 MX$44.51

-38.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.07 TND 32.31

$8.26 MX$142

34.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 TND 16.40

$8.37 MX$144

-32.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 TND 38.84

$10.66 MX$183

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 TND 5.49

$2.63 MX$45.12

-28.52%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 TND 8.81

$1.49 MX$25.53

102.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TND 3.05

$1.92 MX$32.94

-45.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 TND 1.97

$2.09 MX$35.81

-67.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 TND 1.88

$1.86 MX$31.88

-65.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 TND 1.47

$2.26 MX$38.81

-77.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 TND 1.07

$1.06 MX$18.23

-65.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.73

$1.09 MX$18.67

-77.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 TND 9.96

$4.15 MX$71.2

-17.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.00 TND 20.43

$10.39 MX$178

-32.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.21

$1.72 MX$29.59

-36.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 TND 3.06

$2.61 MX$44.85

-59.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 TND 0.96

$0.54 MX$9.30

-38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.75 TND 19.70

$26.94 MX$462

-74.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 TND 0.84

$3.13 MX$53.7

-90.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.64

$2.51 MX$43.09

-91.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 TND 12.09

$3.15 MX$54.1

31.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 TND 2.56

$1.27 MX$21.88

-30.71%

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

$34.8K TND 101.5K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

14.58%

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

$26.9K TND 78.4K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

14.09%

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

$34.87 TND 102

$83.0 MX$1,425

-57.99%

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

$9.87 TND 28.80

$22.71 MX$390

-56.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.60 TND 42.61

$29.46 MX$506

-50.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.21 TND 132

$51.0 MX$875

-11.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 TND 21.69

$18.33 MX$315

-59.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 TND 13.03

$4.93 MX$84.5

-9.33%

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

$85.8 TND 250

$197 MX$3,386

-56.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,413 TND 7,039

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-54.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.40 TND 130

$36.90 MX$633

20.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.25 TND 129

$39.89 MX$685

10.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 TND 263

$80.0 MX$1,373

12.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.2 TND 187

$89.5 MX$1,536

-28.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 TND 1,027

$956 MX$16.4K

-63.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 TND 815

$477 MX$8,189

-41.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 TND 2,263

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-52.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 TND 2,420

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-32.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,842 TND 5,374

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-52.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,070 TND 3,120

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-83.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 TND 1,014

$667 MX$11.4K

-47.89%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in La Marsa versus $956 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 92% 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 $250 – 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 68%, 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 $1,136 per month in La Marsa and $1,906 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 $758 in La Marsa and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 299% 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 $758, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.