😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $631 in Beja, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,092 in Beja, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,554 in Beja, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 101% more than Beja, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Beja are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Beja54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$4.18TND 12.12
177.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$17.37TND 50.4
171.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$4.69TND 13.60
153.30%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$0.64TND 1.84
521.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.54TND 1.56
164.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.27TND 0.79
203.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$1.18TND 3.41
170.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$1.73TND 5.03
292.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.45TND 1.30
273.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.13TND 0.38
1592.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.72TND 5.00
-0.58%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.51TND 4.38
81.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$8.37TND 24.27
14.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.57TND 19.06
37.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$13.75TND 39.87
-6.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.69TND 4.90
71.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$4.70TND 13.62
-68.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$1.15TND 3.33
86.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.89TND 2.59
153.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.67TND 1.93
195.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.62TND 1.79
220.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.50TND 1.44
146.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.29TND 0.84
313.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$3.47TND 10.06
31.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$5.17TND 15.00
100.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.19TND 3.44
36.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$1.42TND 4.12
102.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.39TND 1.14
53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$15.57TND 45.16
84.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.32TND 0.94
1584.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.42TND 1.22
788.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$5.23TND 15.16
10.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$0.78TND 2.25
97.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$39.6KTND 115.0K
-43.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$36.8KTND 106.8K
-29.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$45.47TND 132
100.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$10.86TND 31.49
132.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$20.91TND 60.7
49.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$20.27TND 58.8
231.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$23.68TND 68.7
22.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$3.50TND 10.14
38.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$61.1TND 177
265.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$1,207TND 3,502
250.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$56.8TND 165
-17.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$66.2TND 192
-33.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$110TND 320
-27.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$142TND 413
-34.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$169TND 491
527.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$84.5TND 245
361.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$272TND 788
690.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$303TND 879
319.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$410TND 1,189
875.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$109TND 318
5838.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$344TND 997
120.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11
4.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Beja: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $169 in Beja. 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 121% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Beja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $191 – making Beja 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
Playa del Carmen vs Beja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Beja?
Playa del Carmen costs about 101% more than Beja, 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 Playa del Carmen and in Beja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $946 in Beja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Beja?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Beja?
Public transport costs about 85% less in Beja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Beja?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $61.1 in Beja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Beja?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beja, where all-in costs run around $631, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Beja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Beja?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beja costs $631 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Beja?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Beja?
If budget matters most, go with Beja. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared