Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,343 in Murfreesboro, TN, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Murfreesboro, TN, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Murfreesboro, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,343
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Murfreesboro, TN and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Murfreesboro, TN and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,343 per month in Murfreesboro, TN vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Murfreesboro, TN $2,343
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,388 per month in Murfreesboro, TN vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Murfreesboro, TN $3,388
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,434 per month in Murfreesboro, TN vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Murfreesboro, TN $4,434
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Murfreesboro, TN costs about 95% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Murfreesboro, TN sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.34 $17.34
$10.92 MX$205
58.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$43.37 MX$815
72.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.07 $10.07
$11.78 MX$221
-14.52%
Cappuccino
$5.52 $5.52
$3.81 MX$71.6
44.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.28 MX$24.10
106.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.78 MX$14.71
226.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.17 MX$59.5
24.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 $6.09
$4.93 MX$92.7
23.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.41 MX$26.43
-27.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.22 MX$41.66
34.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$1.42 MX$26.64
137.32%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$2.52 MX$47.41
69.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 $10.29
$7.26 MX$137
41.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 $9.50
$7.70 MX$145
23.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.97 $14.97
$12.69 MX$239
17.97%
Apples (1kg)
$6.44 $6.44
$2.78 MX$52.3
131.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.37 MX$25.71
-18.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.55 MX$47.94
6.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$2.12 MX$39.90
118.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.94 MX$36.43
2.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.89 MX$35.44
40.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.15 MX$21.55
84.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.18 MX$22.16
34.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34 $9.34
$4.30 MX$80.7
117.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$9.95 MX$187
49.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.58 MX$29.76
12.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.67 MX$50.2
19.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.55 MX$10.40
87.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.03 $45.03
$26.62 MX$500
69.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 $4.95
$4.97 MX$93.4
-0.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$3.33 MX$62.6
-54.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.07 $30.07
$5.36 MX$101
461.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.44 MX$27.14
-38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$20.7K MX$388.4K
37.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$23.5K MX$441.0K
6.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 $231
$84.8 MX$1,594
172.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$23.41 MX$440
132.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$28.66 MX$539
89.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.22 $17.22
$57.1 MX$1,072
-69.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.46 $30.46
$28.91 MX$543
5.36%
Cinema Ticket
$14.75 $14.75
$5.14 MX$96.6
186.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,242 $1,242
$207 MX$3,882
501.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$3,927 MX$73.8K
516.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.44 $49.44
$43.35 MX$815
14.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.09 $45.09
$41.44 MX$779
8.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 $88.9
$74.2 MX$1,394
19.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$89.3 MX$1,677
40.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,164 $1,164
$980 MX$18.4K
18.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 $1,117
$381 MX$7,157
193.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$1,708 MX$32.1K
29.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 $1,719
$1,075 MX$20.2K
59.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,748 $2,748
$3,943 MX$74.1K
-30.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,461 $2,461
$6,158 MX$115.7K
-60.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Murfreesboro, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,221 $4,221
$735 MX$13.8K
474.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
11.45
-43.32%

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

Last update for Murfreesboro, TN: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Murfreesboro, TN
$1.1K
Playa del Carmen
$381 65.9% $736
Groceries & Markets
Murfreesboro, TN
$351
Playa del Carmen
$255 27.3% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Murfreesboro, TN
$340
Playa del Carmen
$137 59.8% $203
Eating Out
Murfreesboro, TN
$288
Playa del Carmen
$202 29.7% $85
Clothing & Footwear
Murfreesboro, TN
$139
Playa del Carmen
$112 19.6% $27
Getting Around
Murfreesboro, TN
$62
Playa del Carmen
$50 18.2% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Murfreesboro, TN
$47
Playa del Carmen
$67 44.1% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,164 in Murfreesboro, TN versus $980 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 in Murfreesboro, TN are about 5.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Murfreesboro, TN versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Murfreesboro, TN
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
01:33 1:33 AM
02:33 2:33 AM
1 h ahead of Murfreesboro, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
126,118
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Murfreesboro, TN Playa del Carmen 1,690 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Murfreesboro, TN
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 95% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,514 per month in Murfreesboro, TN and $1,806 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,164 in Murfreesboro, TN.
Are groceries more expensive in Murfreesboro, TN or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Murfreesboro, TN, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Murfreesboro, TN and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Murfreesboro, TN and $43 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Murfreesboro, TN at $2,343. 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 families?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Murfreesboro, TN or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Murfreesboro, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Murfreesboro, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?