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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $453 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $653 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $853 in Tacna, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 179% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Tacna 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$3.05 PEN 10.24

280.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$14.86 PEN 49.88

217.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$4.94 PEN 16.59

140.49%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$3.49 PEN 11.70

14.04%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.22 PEN 4.11

17.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.46 PEN 1.56

78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$2.90 PEN 9.74

10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$3.56 PEN 11.93

90.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.16 PEN 3.88

44.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$1.51 PEN 5.06

45.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$0.87 PEN 2.90

96.55%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$1.75 PEN 5.88

56.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$4.49 PEN 15.07

113.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$4.69 PEN 15.73

92.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$9.14 PEN 30.67

40.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.53 PEN 5.12

-1.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$0.85 PEN 2.85

152.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$0.78 PEN 2.60

153.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.77 PEN 2.58

55.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$4.56 PEN 15.29

-0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$6.49 PEN 21.79

59.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$2.69 PEN 9.03

-39.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$0.29 PEN 0.96

106.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$1.95 PEN 6.54

176.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

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

$25.20 MX$435

$18.95 PEN 63.6

32.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$26.84 PEN 90.1

16.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$29.96 PEN 101

124.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$2.74 PEN 9.20

77.37%

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

$224 MX$3,856

$59.2 PEN 199

277.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$21.06 PEN 70.7

123.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$20.66 PEN 69.3

114.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$26.68 PEN 89.5

247.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$71.5 PEN 240

446.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$483 PEN 1,620

57.10%

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 Tacna: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 57% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $15.00 in Tacna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $152 – making Tacna 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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 179%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $680 in Tacna. 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 $453 in Tacna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $59.2 in Tacna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacna, where all-in costs run around $453, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Tacna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tacna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Tacna. 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.