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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $350 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $458 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $567 in Tacna, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 268% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$1.88 PEN 6.63

535.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$2.57 PEN 9.06

40.86%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$0.27 PEN 0.94

248.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.87 PEN 3.07

64.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$1.36 PEN 4.80

38.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$0.91 PEN 3.20

79.12%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$1.36 PEN 4.80

94.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$4.07 PEN 14.33

101.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$3.59 PEN 12.65

130.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$8.55 PEN 30.10

29.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$0.53 PEN 1.88

237.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$0.44 PEN 1.54

395.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$0.27 PEN 0.94

300.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.71 PEN 2.48

46.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$4.14 PEN 14.58

-4.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$6.13 PEN 21.59

66.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

$2.43 PEN 8.55

-28.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$0.27 PEN 0.95

92.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$1.43 PEN 5.03

119.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

$19.53 PEN 68.7

14.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$24.59 PEN 86.6

20.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$28.76 PEN 101

80.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$2.53 PEN 8.89

96.44%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$54.5 PEN 192

262.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$19.58 PEN 68.9

85.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$19.48 PEN 68.6

105.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$24.75 PEN 87.1

259.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$67.2 PEN 237

591.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$455 PEN 1,601

58.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Tacna: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 58% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 268%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $525 in Tacna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 103% 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.

Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $54.5 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 $350, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.