Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Taby Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Taby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,863 in Taby, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,865 in Taby, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,868 in Taby, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 32% cheaper than Taby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Taby is 38% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$13.27 SEK 122
-12.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$67.3 SEK 618
-36.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$10.39 SEK 95.5
2.02%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$4.68 SEK 42.99
-23.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$3.21 SEK 29.52
-54.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$2.54 SEK 23.37
-64.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$7.54 SEK 69.3
-59.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$8.57 SEK 78.7
-46.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.79 SEK 16.42
-18.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$3.16 SEK 29.04
-42.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$4.05 SEK 37.19
-60.25%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$4.58 SEK 42.06
-44.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$12.72 SEK 117
-32.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$11.92 SEK 110
-28.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$19.33 SEK 178
-43.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$3.44 SEK 31.62
-20.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$2.66 SEK 24.48
-43.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$1.60 SEK 14.69
21.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$4.41 SEK 40.55
-51.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$2.01 SEK 18.44
-7.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$1.89 SEK 17.37
15.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$2.62 SEK 24.08
-59.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$1.56 SEK 14.36
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$7.35 SEK 67.6
-44.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$14.20 SEK 130
-26.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$1.74 SEK 15.97
-5.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$2.28 SEK 21.00
11.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$4.19 SEK 38.50
-86.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$101 SEK 929
-74.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$6.13 SEK 56.3
-48.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.19 SEK 10.98
99.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$20.72 SEK 190
-84.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$1.90 SEK 17.47
-31.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$32.5K SEK 298.7K
-6.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$33.7K SEK 309.9K
-29.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$88.5 SEK 813
-6.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$29.52 SEK 271
-24.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$37.76 SEK 347
-22.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$47.13 SEK 433
8.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
$25.77 SEK 237
-27.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$17.94 SEK 165
-72.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$165 SEK 1,512
20.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$4,101 SEK 37.7K
26.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$107 SEK 983
-66.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$44.58 SEK 410
-11.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$117 SEK 1,073
-31.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$156 SEK 1,430
-43.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$828 SEK 7,613
16.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$658 SEK 6,051
-26.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$1,375 SEK 12.6K
19.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$1,079 SEK 9,918
10.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$4,263 SEK 39.2K
-7.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$3,009 SEK 27.7K
116.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$3,678 SEK 33.8K
-80.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.16
174.52%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Taby: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $828 in Taby. 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 406% higher in Taby, 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $67 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $382 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Taby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taby cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Taby is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,794 in Taby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $1,863 in Taby. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 286% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Taby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Taby at $1,863. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Taby more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Taby?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities