Cost of Living Comparison Between Murfreesboro, TN and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Murfreesboro, TN and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,346 per month in Murfreesboro, TN vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,399 per month in Murfreesboro, TN vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,452 per month in Murfreesboro, TN vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Murfreesboro, TN costs about 81% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Murfreesboro, TN sits 75% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.18 $18.18
$11.73 MX$203
54.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 $60.1
$41.62 MX$720
44.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 $9.94
$10.64 MX$184
-6.58%
Cappuccino
$4.91 $4.91
$3.52 MX$60.9
39.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.51 MX$26.12
36.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.97 MX$16.84
102.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 $3.92
$2.95 MX$51.0
32.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 $6.04
$4.45 MX$77.0
35.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.38 MX$23.93
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.89 MX$32.72
-7.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.64 MX$28.32
32.32%
Eggs
$3.69 $3.69
$2.51 MX$43.34
47.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 $9.91
$8.34 MX$144
18.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 $8.96
$8.34 MX$144
7.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.07 $16.07
$10.73 MX$186
49.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.70 $5.70
$2.60 MX$45.04
119.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.46 MX$25.20
-27.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.90 MX$32.87
40.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.08 MX$35.91
136.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.78 MX$30.71
-3.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.19 MX$37.80
26.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.04 MX$17.99
97.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.08 MX$18.62
53.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.64 $8.64
$4.08 MX$70.6
111.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$10.32 MX$178
42.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.71 MX$29.61
-0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 $2.90
$2.58 MX$44.54
12.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.81 $1.81
$0.51 MX$8.81
254.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.04 $38.04
$26.46 MX$458
43.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 $5.04
$3.26 MX$56.4
54.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.49 MX$43.09
-34.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.27 $30.27
$3.25 MX$56.2
831.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.31 MX$22.61
-38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
12.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$239 $239
$82.9 MX$1,433
188.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.69 $42.69
$22.22 MX$384
92.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$29.34 MX$507
130.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.73 $24.73
$51.6 MX$893
-52.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.42 $30.42
$18.32 MX$317
66.05%
Cinema Ticket
$14.66 $14.66
$5.07 MX$87.6
189.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,126 $1,126
$201 MX$3,473
460.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K $20.8K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
298.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 $55.1
$36.92 MX$639
49.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.5 $60.5
$39.79 MX$688
51.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 $109
$78.5 MX$1,357
38.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$87.1 MX$1,506
39.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 $1,416
$973 MX$16.8K
45.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,150 $1,150
$468 MX$8,090
145.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,785 $4,785
$1,641 MX$28.4K
191.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,880 $1,880
$1,221 MX$21.1K
53.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,824 $2,824
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-28.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,826 $2,826
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-56.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$664 MX$11.5K
538.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
11.42
-42.29%

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

Last update for Murfreesboro, TN: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,416 in Murfreesboro, TN versus $973 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 539% higher in Murfreesboro, TN, 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 $60.0 in Murfreesboro, TN versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Murfreesboro, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Murfreesboro, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Murfreesboro, TN costs about 81% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Murfreesboro, TN vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,518 per month in Murfreesboro, TN and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Murfreesboro, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Murfreesboro, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Murfreesboro, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Murfreesboro, TN vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Murfreesboro, TN and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Murfreesboro, TN or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Murfreesboro, TN at $2,346. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Murfreesboro, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Murfreesboro, TN or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $2,346 in Murfreesboro, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Murfreesboro, TN or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Murfreesboro, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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