Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Taguig City

For one person, living is cheaper in Taguig City: $1,120 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $980 less a year. The total is higher in Playa del Carmen despite lower rent and utilities.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Taguig City, Philippines
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Taguig City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,120
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Taguig City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Taguig City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,120 in Taguig City, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Taguig City $1,120

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,039 in Taguig City, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Taguig City $2,039

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,957 in Taguig City, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Taguig City $2,957

Playa del Carmen costs about 7% more than Taguig City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Taguig City are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Taguig City 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$3.22 ₱204
231.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$26.46 ₱1,679
65.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$3.51 ₱223
235.90%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$1.79 ₱114
111.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$0.93 ₱59.1
39.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$0.38 ₱24.25
118.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$1.16 ₱73.5
171.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$2.16 ₱137
128.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.89 ₱120
-25.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$1.35 ₱85.8
62.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$0.85 ₱54.0
72.94%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.46
$2.05 ₱130
21.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$4.66 ₱296
56.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$3.22 ₱204
146.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$6.86 ₱435
87.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$2.57 ₱163
12.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$1.84 ₱117
-25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.35
$2.78 ₱176
-10.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.77
$0.87 ₱55.0
133.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.68
$1.41 ₱89.3
43.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$1.31 ₱83.0
45.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$0.62 ₱39.27
83.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.05
$0.33 ₱20.90
275.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$2.67 ₱170
59.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$6.93 ₱440
41.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$0.77 ₱49.15
106.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$1.98 ₱125
38.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$0.21 ₱13.30
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$13.21 ₱838
107.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$1.01 ₱64.4
371.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$0.22 ₱13.96
1377.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$1.88 ₱119
186.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$1.30 ₱82.8
17.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$21.1K ₱1.3M
0.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$18.9K ₱1.2M
23.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$111 ₱7,061
-24.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$15.43 ₱979
50.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$24.44 ₱1,550
12.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$31.70 ₱2,011
78.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$6.22 ₱394
-19.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$619 ₱39.3K
-66.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.3K
$13.7K ₱868.9K
-61.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$48.46 ₱3,074
-10.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$28.31 ₱1,796
50.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$72.2 ₱4,582
0.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$59.7 ₱3,787
48.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$874 ₱55.5K
13.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$573 ₱36.3K
-33.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$3,211 ₱203.7K
-47.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$1,786 ₱113.3K
-39.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$5,522 ₱350.4K
-29.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$3,869 ₱245.5K
58.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Taguig City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
$550 ₱34.9K
51.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
7
63.57%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Taguig City: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Taguig City
$573 49.8% $190
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Taguig City
$169 34.4% $88
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Taguig City
$73 63.5% $127
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Taguig City
$151 12.6% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Taguig City
$94 15.6% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Taguig City
$44 33.6% $22
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Taguig City
$16 68% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $874 in Taguig City. 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 51% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $26 in Taguig City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $169 – making Taguig City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇵🇭 Taguig City
🕒 Local time
09:42 9:42 AM
22:42 10:42 PM
13 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
47,397
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.83 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.44 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.03 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Taguig City 15,050 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Taguig City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Taguig City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taguig City cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,680 in Taguig City. 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 Taguig City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $874 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Taguig City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $1,120 in Taguig City. That makes Taguig City about 7% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 52% less in Taguig City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 enough for either Playa del Carmen or Taguig City?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $1,120 in Taguig City, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Taguig City costs $1,120 versus $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Taguig City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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