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 $852 per month in Las Tablas vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $750 per month in Las Tablas vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $647 per month in Las Tablas vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Las Tablas is about 32% 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 36% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 PAB 9.84

$11.72 MX$203

-16.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.85 PAB 29.85

$41.89 MX$725

-28.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$2.96 MX$51.2

-48.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 PAB 3.04

$4.41 MX$76.3

-31.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

Eggs

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$2.61 MX$45.14

-24.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$5.84 PAB 5.84

$10.43 MX$180

-44.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$1.66 MX$28.68

-15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$3.08 MX$53.3

-68.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$1.31 MX$22.69

-33.59%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$148 PAB 148

$81.3 MX$1,406

82.39%

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

$15.05 PAB 15.05

$22.56 MX$390

-33.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.90 PAB 29.90

$30.05 MX$520

-0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.21 PAB 20.21

$52.9 MX$915

-61.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 PAB 696

$978 MX$16.9K

-28.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 PAB 500

$470 MX$8,140

6.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Las Tablas: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Las Tablas versus $978 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Las Tablas versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $27.00 vs $252 – 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 48% 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 $1,278 per month in Las Tablas and $1,890 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 Las Tablas, 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 $852 in Las Tablas and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 847% 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 $852, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $852 versus $1,260 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.