๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $620 in Menzel Temime versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Menzel Temime versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,375 in Menzel Temime versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Menzel Temime costs roughly 51% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Menzel Temime54% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33TNDย 9.60
$11.67MX$202
-71.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.70TNDย 59.6
$41.88MX$726
-50.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32TNDย 9.56
$10.40MX$180
-68.08%
Cappuccino
$0.72TNDย 2.07
$3.61MX$62.6
-80.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TNDย 1.71
$1.47MX$25.45
-59.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TNDย 0.72
$0.91MX$15.80
-72.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57TNDย 4.51
$3.03MX$52.6
-48.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92TNDย 5.54
$4.47MX$77.4
-57.05%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.53TNDย 1.54
$1.38MX$23.83
-61.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.17TNDย 0.49
$1.84MX$31.93
-90.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51TNDย 4.34
$1.61MX$27.82
-6.21%
Eggs
$1.64TNDย 4.71
$2.57MX$44.52
-36.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.39TNDย 32.80
$8.49MX$147
34.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.77TNDย 16.61
$8.49MX$147
-32.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.24TNDย 38.13
$10.99MX$190
20.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23TNDย 6.43
$2.73MX$47.25
-18.32%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09TNDย 8.90
$1.50MX$25.92
106.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04TNDย 3.00
$1.96MX$33.93
-46.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TNDย 2.14
$2.12MX$36.70
-65.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74TNDย 2.14
$1.86MX$32.30
-60.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71TNDย 2.05
$2.17MX$37.67
-67.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51TNDย 1.48
$1.07MX$18.59
-52.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TNDย 0.96
$1.05MX$18.18
-68.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63TNDย 10.47
$4.19MX$72.6
-13.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.25TNDย 15.13
$10.28MX$178
-48.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15TNDย 3.32
$1.67MX$28.87
-31.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07TNDย 3.08
$2.49MX$43.12
-57.03%
๐ Getting Around
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36TNDย 1.02
$0.54MX$9.37
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.96TNDย 28.69
$26.27MX$455
-62.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TNDย 0.93
$3.10MX$53.8
-89.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TNDย 0.96
$2.46MX$42.66
-86.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.61TNDย 21.93
$3.24MX$56.1
134.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88TNDย 2.54
$1.26MX$21.83
-30.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KTNDย 104.0K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
19.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KTNDย 98.8K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
46.26%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.14TNDย 130
$84.0MX$1,456
-46.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.34TNDย 26.90
$22.21MX$385
-57.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.03TNDย 43.28
$29.65MX$514
-49.31%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.89TNDย 86.1
$52.6MX$912
-43.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.88TNDย 37.09
$18.34MX$318
-29.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.47TNDย 12.88
$4.95MX$85.7
-9.70%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$108TNDย 311
$198MX$3,438
-45.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,514TNDย 7,241
$5,322MX$92.2K
-52.75%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.24TNDย 130
$35.95MX$623
25.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.54TNDย 128
$40.06MX$694
11.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.7TNDย 287
$78.8MX$1,365
26.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1TNDย 190
$86.5MX$1,499
-23.65%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198TNDย 571
$977MX$16.9K
-79.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136TNDย 391
$471MX$8,158
-71.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377TNDย 1,086
$1,595MX$27.6K
-76.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269TNDย 774
$1,215MX$21.1K
-77.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$994TNDย 2,862
$4,032MX$69.9K
-75.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$593TNDย 1,707
$6,579MX$114.0K
-90.99%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Menzel Temime
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
11.42
19.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Menzel Temime: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Menzel Temime and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $21 in Menzel Temime vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $252 per month, with Menzel Temime cheaper across the board.
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
Menzel Temime vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Menzel Temime?
Menzel Temime is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $931 in Menzel Temime and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Menzel Temime and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Menzel Temime versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $108 in Menzel Temime versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Menzel Temime and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Menzel Temime or Playa del Carmen?
At $620 in Menzel Temime versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Menzel Temime but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Menzel Temime the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Menzel Temime or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Menzel Temime is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Menzel Temime or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Menzel Temime and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Menzel Temime gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 103% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Menzel Temime vs other spots: cost of living compared