😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $628 in Beja, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,097 in Beja, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,565 in Beja, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 100% more than Beja, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Beja are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Beja53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$3.88TND 11.34
209.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$17.19TND 50.3
143.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$4.82TND 14.09
123.03%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$0.71TND 2.07
392.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.52TND 1.53
178.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.23TND 0.67
282.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.17TND 3.43
152.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$1.63TND 4.77
176.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.46TND 1.34
210.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.16TND 0.45
1050.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.27TND 3.71
23.62%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.65TND 4.83
52.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$6.66TND 19.49
24.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$5.74TND 16.79
46.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$13.77TND 40.29
-22.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.58TND 4.62
65.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$3.19TND 9.33
-54.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$0.92TND 2.70
113.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$0.62TND 1.80
237.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.71TND 2.08
160.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.59TND 1.74
267.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.41TND 1.20
151.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.31TND 0.91
245.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$3.62TND 10.61
13.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$5.12TND 14.99
98.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.19TND 3.49
41.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.09TND 3.18
132.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.42TND 1.24
21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$10.19TND 29.82
155.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.34TND 1.00
850.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.33TND 0.97
630.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$6.19TND 18.12
-47.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$0.79TND 2.31
67.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$48.2KTND 141.0K
-38.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$36.4KTND 106.4K
-34.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$51.5TND 151
59.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$10.88TND 31.85
110.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$18.16TND 53.1
65.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$21.00TND 61.4
147.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$23.73TND 69.5
-21.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.35TND 18.59
-21.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$61.1TND 179
223.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$1,217TND 3,561
338.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$41.92TND 123
-15.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$60.9TND 178
-33.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$125TND 366
-37.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$83.4TND 244
6.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$194TND 569
387.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$137TND 402
244.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$377TND 1,102
336.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$404TND 1,182
199.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$397TND 1,162
920.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$110TND 321
5790.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$332TND 972
96.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12
-4.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Beja: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $194 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 97% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Beja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $169 – 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 100% 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $942 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 156% 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 $197 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 $628, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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 $628 versus $1,256 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