Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Grand Turk Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Grand Turk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $334 in Grand Turk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $515 in Grand Turk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $696 in Grand Turk.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 291% more expensive than in Grand Turk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Grand Turk 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$20.17 $20.17

-40.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$4.07 $4.07

-77.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

$11.90 $11.90

-73.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$14.95 $14.95

-52.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$3.85 $3.85

-44.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$6.43 $6.43

-63.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$1.94 $1.94

-20.62%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

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

$25.19 MX$427

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

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

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$7,793 $7,793

-90.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Grand Turk: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Grand Turk pays 908% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Grand Turk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Grand Turk differ by about 291% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $334 including rent). Grand Turk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 908% lower in Grand Turk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 293% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $334 in Grand Turk – a 291% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $334 in Grand Turk versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Turk but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Turk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Grand Turk 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 Grand Turk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 291% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.