๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,545 in Manchester, TN.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,582 in Manchester, TN.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,620 in Manchester, TN.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 50% less than in Manchester, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Manchester, TN is 90% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$13.13$13.13
-11.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$31.65$31.65
32.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$9.03$9.03
15.17%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.32$4.32
-16.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.42$2.42
-39.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.08$2.08
-56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.33$6.33
-52.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$4.22$4.22
5.92%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.95$0.95
45.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$3.93$3.93
-53.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$4.78$4.78
-66.32%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.61$4.61
-44.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$5.64$5.64
50.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$5.64$5.64
50.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$11.21$11.21
-1.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$5.08$5.08
-46.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.75$1.75
-14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$4.52$4.52
-56.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.89$3.89
-45.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$3.78$3.78
-50.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$3.48$3.48
-37.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.27$2.27
-52.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$2.57$2.57
-59.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$4.55$4.55
-7.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$14.80$14.80
-30.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.68$1.68
-0.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.54$1.54
61.69%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.96$1.96
-72.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$3.03$3.03
2.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.53$1.53
60.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$39.61$39.61
-91.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.81$0.81
55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$32.5K$32.5K
-7.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$25.1K$25.1K
-6.54%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$286$286
-70.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$55.0$55.0
-59.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$61.0$61.0
-51.37%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$43.74$43.74
20.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$15.89$15.89
-68.85%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,317$1,317
-84.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$30.5K$30.5K
-82.55%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$69.4$69.4
-48.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$38.77$38.77
3.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$100$100
-21.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$126$126
-31.52%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,572$1,572
-37.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,366$1,366
-65.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$2,588$2,588
-38.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,227$2,227
-45.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$2,617$2,617
54.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,622$2,622
150.92%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.56
74.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Manchester, TN: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,572 in Manchester, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $32 in Manchester, TN. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $338, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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 Manchester, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manchester, TN cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $3,817 in Manchester, TN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Manchester, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,572 in Manchester, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Manchester, TN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Manchester, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Manchester, TN?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,545 in Manchester, TN โ a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Manchester, TN?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,545 in Manchester, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Manchester, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Manchester, TN more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manchester, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 102% less than in Manchester, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared