Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $735 in Monastir versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Monastir versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,621 in Monastir versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Monastir costs roughly 42% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Monastir 46% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TND 13.66

$11.60 MX$199

-59.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.48 TND 65.4

$47.11 MX$809

-52.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 TND 17.73

$11.88 MX$204

-48.74%

Cappuccino

$1.15 TND 3.35

$3.98 MX$68.2

-71.11%

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

$0.81 TND 2.36

$1.43 MX$24.49

-43.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 TND 1.13

$0.82 MX$14.16

-52.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 TND 5.09

$3.19 MX$54.7

-45.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 TND 5.11

$6.79 MX$117

-74.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 TND 1.50

$1.68 MX$28.76

-69.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.17 TND 0.49

$2.20 MX$37.71

-92.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 TND 5.08

$1.71 MX$29.32

2.34%

Eggs

$1.72 TND 5.00

$2.74 MX$47.05

-37.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.75 TND 40.00

$9.58 MX$164

43.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 TND 18.04

$9.01 MX$155

-31.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 TND 43.28

$12.81 MX$220

16.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 TND 5.58

$2.89 MX$49.58

-33.56%

Banana (1kg)

$4.69 TND 13.64

$1.50 MX$25.70

212.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 TND 3.35

$2.15 MX$36.87

-46.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 TND 2.40

$2.26 MX$38.79

-63.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 TND 2.63

$1.98 MX$34.00

-54.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TND 2.23

$1.99 MX$34.15

-61.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 TND 1.36

$1.23 MX$21.18

-61.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 TND 0.98

$1.20 MX$20.54

-71.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 TND 10.69

$4.55 MX$78.1

-19.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.04 TND 14.65

$10.37 MX$178

-51.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 TND 3.49

$1.62 MX$27.79

-25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 TND 3.93

$2.88 MX$49.44

-53.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 TND 1.02

$0.60 MX$10.30

-41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.66 TND 33.93

$28.80 MX$494

-59.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 TND 0.94

$5.39 MX$92.5

-94.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 TND 0.97

$3.73 MX$64.0

-91.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 TND 5.27

$5.77 MX$99.0

-68.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 TND 2.44

$1.54 MX$26.37

-45.45%

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

$39.7K TND 115.6K

$22.5K MX$387.0K

76.16%

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

$37.1K TND 108.0K

$26.1K MX$447.3K

42.41%

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

$69.0 TND 201

$91.4 MX$1,569

-24.53%

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

$10.87 TND 31.61

$25.20 MX$433

-56.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.23 TND 58.8

$31.24 MX$536

-35.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.20 TND 70.4

$67.2 MX$1,154

-63.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.74 TND 19.60

$29.11 MX$500

-76.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 TND 18.02

$4.86 MX$83.5

27.37%

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

$99.0 TND 288

$224 MX$3,839

-55.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,058 TND 8,897

$4,229 MX$72.6K

-27.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.46 TND 144

$47.10 MX$808

5.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.1 TND 192

$44.29 MX$760

49.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 TND 331

$80.1 MX$1,375

41.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 TND 321

$92.7 MX$1,591

19.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 TND 597

$1,063 MX$18.2K

-80.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$122 TND 355

$390 MX$6,698

-68.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 TND 1,087

$2,149 MX$36.9K

-82.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 TND 699

$1,272 MX$21.8K

-81.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,237 TND 3,600

$4,001 MX$68.7K

-69.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$623 TND 1,812

$6,502 MX$111.6K

-90.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$356 TND 1,037

$758 MX$13.0K

-53.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-3.93%

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

Last update for Monastir: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $205 in Monastir and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 113% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Monastir vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $276 per month, with Monastir 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

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

Monastir is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 113% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $205 in Monastir versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $735 per month in Monastir versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Monastir runs roughly 147% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $735 in Monastir versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Monastir but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Monastir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Monastir 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.

Safety-wise, Monastir 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.

Expats usually find Monastir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.