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 $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,190 in Taby, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,162 in Taby, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,133 in Taby, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 41% cheaper than Taby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Taby is 59% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$14.60 SEK 140
-19.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$66.5 SEK 636
-29.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$10.28 SEK 98.3
13.33%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$4.39 SEK 41.99
-6.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$3.54 SEK 33.89
-61.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$2.51 SEK 24.00
-66.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$7.52 SEK 71.9
-55.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$9.47 SEK 90.6
-27.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$1.71 SEK 16.39
1.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$3.29 SEK 31.43
-31.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$3.98 SEK 38.08
-55.53%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$5.19 SEK 49.64
-47.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$13.18 SEK 126
-30.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$13.65 SEK 131
-34.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$18.20 SEK 174
-30.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$3.40 SEK 32.51
-11.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$2.72 SEK 26.02
-42.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$2.03 SEK 19.43
4.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$4.73 SEK 45.25
-52.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$1.85 SEK 17.66
8.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$1.80 SEK 17.27
14.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$2.42 SEK 23.12
-51.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$1.96 SEK 18.76
-38.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$7.49 SEK 71.6
-38.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$12.65 SEK 121
-15.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$2.05 SEK 19.57
-20.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$2.30 SEK 21.96
25.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$4.47 SEK 42.73
-87.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$107 SEK 1,026
-72.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$6.18 SEK 59.1
-11.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$1.54 SEK 14.71
140.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$57.9 SEK 554
-89.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$1.90 SEK 18.15
-18.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$33.8K SEK 322.9K
-33.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$33.5K SEK 320.7K
-22.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$183 SEK 1,746
-51.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$27.00 SEK 258
-7.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$40.92 SEK 391
-23.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$17.44 SEK 167
-71.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$173 SEK 1,653
30.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$17.4K SEK 166.1K
-75.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$103 SEK 988
-54.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$55.5 SEK 531
-19.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$98.4 SEK 941
-16.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$197 SEK 1,888
-53.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$1,031 SEK 9,861
3.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
$886 SEK 8,475
-54.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$1,438 SEK 13.8K
34.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$1,247 SEK 11.9K
4.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$6,207 SEK 59.4K
-35.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$7,277 SEK 69.6K
-8.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$3,440 SEK 32.9K
-78.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.2
257.81%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Taby: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,031 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 359% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $67.0 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $397 – 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 69%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,285 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 and in Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $2,190 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 259% 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Taby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Taby at $2,190. 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.

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