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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,005 in Tamási, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,557 in Tamási, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,110 in Tamási, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 26% more than Tamási, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tamási are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Tamási 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$7.75 Ft 2,412

50.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$46.63 Ft 14.5K

-10.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$5.59 Ft 1,739

86.05%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$2.07 Ft 643

74.40%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$1.50 Ft 468

-2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$1.37 Ft 427

-33.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$2.26 Ft 703

34.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$2.17 Ft 674

105.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.08 Ft 336

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$1.55 Ft 482

18.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$1.18 Ft 368

36.44%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$2.12 Ft 659

21.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$7.96 Ft 2,477

6.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$5.75 Ft 1,789

47.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$11.19 Ft 3,480

-1.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$1.35 Ft 420

102.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.47 Ft 458

2.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$1.75 Ft 546

12.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$2.78 Ft 865

-23.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$0.90 Ft 279

106.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$1.18 Ft 368

83.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$1.44 Ft 448

-25.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$0.44 Ft 138

138.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$6.35 Ft 1,975

-34.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$4.11 Ft 1,278

150.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$1.00 Ft 313

67.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$1.42 Ft 443

75.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.14 Ft 354

-52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$25.28 Ft 7,865

3.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$2.85 Ft 888

8.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$1.26 Ft 393

95.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$16.99 Ft 5,285

-80.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$1.75 Ft 546

-28.00%

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$26.0K Ft 8.1M

16.10%

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$25.3K Ft 7.9M

-7.36%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

$105 Ft 32.6K

-19.93%

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

$22.21 MX$385

$25.08 Ft 7,803

-11.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$13.00 Ft 4,046

128.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$47.23 Ft 14.7K

11.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

$16.64 Ft 5,176

10.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$7.00 Ft 2,178

-29.29%

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

$198 MX$3,438

$221 Ft 68.8K

-10.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$6,221 Ft 1.9M

-14.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$82.6 Ft 25.7K

-56.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$29.93 Ft 9,311

33.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$68.5 Ft 21.3K

14.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$58.2 Ft 18.1K

48.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$450 Ft 140.2K

116.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$341 Ft 106.0K

38.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$638 Ft 198.5K

150.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$527 Ft 164.1K

130.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$3,091 Ft 961.7K

30.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$2,266 Ft 705.0K

190.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$1,256 Ft 390.7K

-43.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.85

95.21%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Tamási: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $450 in Tamási. 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 76% higher in Tamási, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $47 in Tamási. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $194 in Tamási – so Tamási 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 Tamási: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,507 in Tamási. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tamási, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $1,005 in Tamási. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Tamási. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tamási, where all-in costs run around $1,005, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Tamási it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tamási – 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 Tamási. 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.