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 $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,036 in Tamási, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,572 in Tamási, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,108 in Tamási, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 21% 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 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 MX$209
$7.50 Ft 2,378
59.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94 MX$734
$45.33 Ft 14.4K
-7.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 MX$182
$5.70 Ft 1,807
82.81%
Cappuccino
$3.51 MX$61.5
$2.03 Ft 643
72.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MX$26.53
$1.48 Ft 470
2.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.93
$1.43 Ft 454
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 MX$53.2
$2.29 Ft 726
32.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 MX$76.5
$2.11 Ft 669
107.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$24.86
$1.08 Ft 344
31.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$32.03
$1.55 Ft 492
18.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.60
$1.18 Ft 373
38.14%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.43
$2.05 Ft 649
23.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 MX$150
$7.99 Ft 2,532
7.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$149
$5.77 Ft 1,830
47.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 MX$189
$11.27 Ft 3,573
-4.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$48.19
$1.35 Ft 427
103.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.13
$1.42 Ft 451
1.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 MX$33.00
$1.69 Ft 537
11.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.96
$2.86 Ft 906
-24.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.13
$0.96 Ft 305
85.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 MX$38.91
$1.19 Ft 378
86.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$1.44 Ft 455
-25.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.89
$0.45 Ft 142
140.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$72.5
$6.20 Ft 1,967
-33.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.45 MX$183
$4.13 Ft 1,309
153.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 MX$30.50
$1.00 Ft 316
74.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$45.16
$1.41 Ft 447
82.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.98
$1.13 Ft 357
-54.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.94 MX$454
$24.73 Ft 7,840
4.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 MX$56.2
$2.86 Ft 906
12.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.50 MX$43.78
$1.34 Ft 424
86.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 MX$55.7
$17.40 Ft 5,518
-81.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.98
$1.69 Ft 536
-25.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$519.3K
$25.9K Ft 8.2M
14.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$414.3K
$25.3K Ft 8.0M
-6.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$104 Ft 33.0K
-21.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73 MX$398
$24.64 Ft 7,812
-7.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 MX$515
$13.20 Ft 4,186
122.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$913
$46.07 Ft 14.6K
13.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 MX$323
$16.89 Ft 5,355
9.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$86.3
$6.96 Ft 2,208
-29.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,530
$222 Ft 70.3K
-8.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,217 MX$91.3K
$6,329 Ft 2.0M
-17.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$629
$84.1 Ft 26.7K
-57.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$706
$29.95 Ft 9,497
34.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,397
$68.5 Ft 21.7K
16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,562
$56.2 Ft 17.8K
59.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 MX$16.6K
$453 Ft 143.8K
109.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,140
$349 Ft 110.8K
33.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 MX$28.5K
$646 Ft 204.8K
152.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 MX$20.9K
$528 Ft 167.3K
126.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,933 MX$68.8K
$2,627 Ft 833.0K
49.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,428 MX$112.4K
$2,109 Ft 668.8K
204.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$658 MX$11.5K
$1,207 Ft 382.7K
-45.47%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Tamási: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $453 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 83% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Tamási. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $195 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
Is Tamási cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, 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 $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,554 in Tamási. 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 Tamási, 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 and in Tamási?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $1,036 in Tamási. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 5% less in Tamási. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tamási?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tamási, where all-in costs run around $1,036, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. In Tamási it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tamási more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Tamási?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities