Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $461 per month in Las Tablas vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $676 per month in Las Tablas vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $892 per month in Las Tablas vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Las Tablas is about 64% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Las Tablas and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Las Tablas 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.15 PAB 10.15

$11.60 MX$199

-12.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 PAB 30.53

$47.11 MX$809

-35.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 PAB 8.38

$11.88 MX$204

-29.46%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.2

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

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.43 MX$24.49

-31.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$0.82 MX$14.16

24.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 PAB 1.29

$3.19 MX$54.7

-59.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$6.79 MX$117

-59.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.76

White Bread (500g)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$2.20 MX$37.71

-10.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.32

Eggs

$2.03 PAB 2.03

$2.74 MX$47.05

-25.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$220

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 PAB 4.30

$2.89 MX$49.58

48.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 PAB 1.26

$1.50 MX$25.70

-16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.87

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$2.26 MX$38.79

-30.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 PAB 1.23

$1.23 MX$21.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.20 MX$20.54

-18.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$5.62 PAB 5.62

$10.37 MX$178

-45.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PAB 1.27

$1.62 MX$27.79

-21.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$2.88 MX$49.44

-37.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PAB 1.03

$5.39 MX$92.5

-80.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.54 MX$26.37

-39.61%

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

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

$147 PAB 147

$91.4 MX$1,569

61.00%

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

$23.23 PAB 23.23

$25.20 MX$433

-7.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.93 PAB 36.93

$31.24 MX$536

18.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.90 PAB 19.90

$67.2 MX$1,154

-70.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

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

$224 MX$3,839

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Las Tablas: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Las Tablas versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $276 – making Las Tablas 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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 175% more than Las Tablas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $691 per month in Las Tablas and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $461 in Las Tablas and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 169% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $461, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $461 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Las Tablas. 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.