๐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,025 in Tamรกsi, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,585 in Tamรกsi, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,145 in Tamรกsi, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen costs about 24% more than Tamรกsi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Playa del Carmen and Tamรกsi are more affordable than the global median โ Playa del Carmen5% lower, Tamรกsi24% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$207
$7.67Ftย 2,365
54.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$749
$45.89Ftย 14.2K
-6.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$186
$5.63Ftย 1,736
89.17%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$60.2
$2.06Ftย 636
67.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$26.24
$1.49Ftย 460
0.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.56
$1.39Ftย 428
-31.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.8
$2.27Ftย 700
33.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$80.4
$2.12Ftย 653
117.45%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.01
$1.05Ftย 324
31.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.60Ftย 494
15.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$28.11
$1.18Ftย 364
36.44%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.26
$2.04Ftย 628
26.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$144
$7.70Ftย 2,375
7.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$146
$5.65Ftย 1,744
48.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$186
$11.26Ftย 3,473
-5.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.89
$1.37Ftย 422
91.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.96
$1.41Ftย 434
5.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.50
$1.75Ftย 538
9.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.41
$2.77Ftย 855
-24.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.42
$0.96Ftย 296
93.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.47
$1.19Ftย 366
89.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.54
$1.43Ftย 441
-25.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.98
$0.48Ftย 148
127.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.4
$6.36Ftย 1,962
-34.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$181
$4.16Ftย 1,284
149.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$30.09
$0.92Ftย 285
86.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.60
$1.46Ftย 450
78.77%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.46
$1.18Ftย 364
-54.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$470
$25.37Ftย 7,823
6.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.6
$2.88Ftย 887
8.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.82
$1.29Ftย 398
94.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$55.0
$17.46Ftย 5,385
-81.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.25
$1.68Ftย 519
-24.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$530.1K
$26.2KFtย 8.1M
15.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.3K
$25.3KFtย 7.8M
-6.70%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,449
$105Ftย 32.3K
-20.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$396
$24.87Ftย 7,669
-8.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$514
$13.41Ftย 4,136
119.69%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$890
$46.78Ftย 14.4K
9.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$320
$16.60Ftย 5,119
10.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.0
$6.98Ftย 2,151
-29.37%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,444
$223Ftย 68.7K
-11.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$92.1K
$6,210Ftย 1.9M
-14.99%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$644
$82.9Ftย 25.6K
-55.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$696
$29.76Ftย 9,177
34.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,396
$69.5Ftย 21.4K
15.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,561
$58.1Ftย 17.9K
54.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.7K
$451Ftย 139.0K
112.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,327
$339Ftย 104.6K
40.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.7K
$633Ftย 195.3K
159.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.4K
$539Ftย 166.3K
127.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$68.4K
$3,333Ftย 1.0M
17.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$112.7K
$2,104Ftย 648.9K
206.93%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tamรกsi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.6K
$1,251Ftย 385.6K
-46.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.85
95.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Tamรกsi: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $451 in Tamรกsi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 87% higher in Tamรกsi, which reinforces the cost advantage โ you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $46.00 in Tamรกsi. Groceries tell a different story โ $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $193 in Tamรกsi โ so Tamรกsi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Tamรกsi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tamรกsi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,537 in Tamรกsi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tamรกsi, 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 Tamรกsi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,025 in Tamรกsi. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Tamรกsi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Tamรกsi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tamรกsi, where all-in costs run around $1,025, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Tamรกsi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tamรกsi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tamรกsi โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Tamรกsi?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tamรกsi. 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 other spots: cost of living compared