Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Las Tablas Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Las Tablas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $461 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $676 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $892 in Las Tablas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 175% more than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Las Tablas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Las Tablas 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$199

$10.15 PAB 10.15

14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$809

$30.53 PAB 30.53

54.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$204

$8.38 PAB 8.38

41.77%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.2

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

$1.43 MX$24.49

$0.98 PAB 0.98

45.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.16

$1.02 PAB 1.02

-19.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.7

$1.29 PAB 1.29

147.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$2.73 PAB 2.73

148.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.76

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.71

$1.96 PAB 1.96

12.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.32

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.05

$2.03 PAB 2.03

34.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$220

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.58

$4.30 PAB 4.30

-32.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.70

$1.26 PAB 1.26

19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.79

$1.57 PAB 1.57

43.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.18

$1.23 PAB 1.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.54

$0.98 PAB 0.98

22.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$178

$5.62 PAB 5.62

84.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.79

$1.27 PAB 1.27

27.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.44

$1.79 PAB 1.79

60.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.5

$1.03 PAB 1.03

423.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.37

$0.93 PAB 0.93

65.59%

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,569

$147 PAB 147

-37.89%

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

$25.20 MX$433

$23.23 PAB 23.23

8.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$536

$36.93 PAB 36.93

-15.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,154

$19.90 PAB 19.90

237.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

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

$224 MX$3,839

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

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 12, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $31.00 in Las Tablas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $103 – making Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 175% more than Las Tablas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $691 in Las Tablas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $461 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 169% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $461, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $461 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Las Tablas. 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.