😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,057 in Talcahuano, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,617 in Talcahuano, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,177 in Talcahuano, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 22% more than Talcahuano, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Talcahuano are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Talcahuano21% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$8.55CLP 7,605
39.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$44.14CLP 39.2K
-3.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$8.12CLP 7,217
30.42%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.72CLP 2,417
33.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.30CLP 1,154
13.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.02CLP 911
-7.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$3.28CLP 2,916
-5.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$4.19CLP 3,727
6.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.24CLP 1,101
15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.57CLP 1,396
19.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.85CLP 1,643
-11.89%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.60CLP 3,201
-26.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$10.34CLP 9,194
-20.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.54CLP 5,817
26.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$11.11CLP 9,882
-0.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.82CLP 1,622
45.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.57CLP 1,396
-4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.58CLP 1,404
25.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.44CLP 1,280
44.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.23CLP 1,092
45.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.36CLP 1,207
60.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.21CLP 1,074
-10.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.22CLP 1,086
-14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$5.34CLP 4,751
-25.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.63CLP 1,446
6.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.20CLP 1,959
13.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.57CLP 507
-8.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.47CLP 417
568.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.43CLP 1,269
-11.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$19.2KCLP 17.1M
60.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$21.7KCLP 19.3M
7.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$131CLP 116.6K
-37.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$13.49CLP 12.0K
66.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$21.78CLP 19.4K
36.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$38.43CLP 34.2K
34.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$21.07CLP 18.7K
-11.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.71CLP 5,074
-12.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$437CLP 388.3K
-54.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$51.2CLP 45.6K
-29.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$30.20CLP 26.9K
32.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$62.4CLP 55.5K
27.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$82.4CLP 73.3K
7.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$480CLP 426.5K
100.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$376CLP 334.2K
23.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$876CLP 779.0K
82.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$599CLP 532.7K
101.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Talcahuano
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$676CLP 600.8K
6.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.18
120.46%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Talcahuano: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $480 in Talcahuano. 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 7% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $44.00 in Talcahuano. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $217 in Talcahuano – so Talcahuano wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Talcahuano: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Talcahuano cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,585 in Talcahuano. 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 Talcahuano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Talcahuano?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,057 in Talcahuano. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $437 in Talcahuano. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Talcahuano?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Talcahuano, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Talcahuano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Talcahuano more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Talcahuano – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Talcahuano. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado