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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $332 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $399 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $465 in Tacuarembo, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 287% more than Tacuarembo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tacuarembo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Tacuarembo 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$208

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$744

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.0

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

$1.47 MX$25.54

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.80

$1.32 UYU 52.2

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.79

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.34

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.99

$3.96 UYU 157

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.14

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.11

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.59

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.13

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.04

$1.12 UYU 44.51

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

$3.75 UYU 149

172.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

$1.68 UYU 66.7

2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

$2.02 UYU 80.0

23.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

$1.24 UYU 49.05

-58.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

$44.56 UYU 1,766

-39.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$1.44 UYU 57.2

118.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

$1.54 UYU 61.2

55.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

$11.23 UYU 445

-72.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.16

$1.92 UYU 76.1

-33.85%

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

$38.7K UYU 1.5M

-20.23%

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

$38.9K UYU 1.5M

-40.08%

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

$172 UYU 6,812

-52.30%

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

$22.45 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

$39.07 UYU 1,548

-24.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

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

$198 MX$3,442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$632

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$697

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,547

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,086

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.5K

$893 UYU 35.4K

-19.33%

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 Tacuarembo: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 24% 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 287%, 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 $499 in Tacuarembo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 301% 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 65% 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 $332, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.