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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $336 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $403 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $471 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 275% more than Tacuarembo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tacuarembo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Tacuarembo 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.32 UYU 53.3

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$4.15 UYU 167

-37.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.07 UYU 43.11

1.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$3.80 UYU 153

174.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$1.72 UYU 69.1

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$2.04 UYU 82.1

27.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.23 UYU 49.54

-56.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$44.11 UYU 1,774

-40.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$1.51 UYU 60.7

103.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$1.56 UYU 62.8

53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$10.96 UYU 441

-71.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$1.92 UYU 77.2

-31.77%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$39.8K UYU 1.6M

-25.19%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$39.9K UYU 1.6M

-41.52%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$173 UYU 6,963

-53.07%

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

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$39.87 UYU 1,603

-24.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$871 UYU 35.0K

-22.29%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tacuarembo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 29% higher in Tacuarembo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Tacuarembo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 275%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $504 in Tacuarembo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 299% 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.

Public transport costs about 69% less in Tacuarembo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacuarembo, where all-in costs run around $336, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Tacuarembo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tacuarembo – 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 Tacuarembo. 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.