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 $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,207 in Tamási, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,868 in Tamási, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,530 in Tamási, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 8% more than Tamási, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tamási are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Tamási 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$9.82 Ft 3,077
21.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$62.1 Ft 19.4K
-23.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$9.52 Ft 2,982
23.42%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$2.45 Ft 766
68.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$1.59 Ft 498
-11.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$1.37 Ft 430
-33.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$2.28 Ft 713
40.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$2.31 Ft 725
206.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.09 Ft 341
54.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$1.43 Ft 447
50.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$1.25 Ft 393
41.60%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$2.23 Ft 699
26.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$10.38 Ft 3,251
-11.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$6.12 Ft 1,916
50.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$12.69 Ft 3,975
-0.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$1.54 Ft 483
91.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$1.64 Ft 512
-3.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$1.89 Ft 593
17.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$3.11 Ft 973
-24.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$0.99 Ft 311
101.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.12 Ft 350
76.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$1.55 Ft 486
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.52 Ft 164
132.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$7.17 Ft 2,245
-35.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$4.21 Ft 1,320
149.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.19 Ft 374
42.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$1.56 Ft 489
77.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$1.24 Ft 387
-51.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$28.00 Ft 8,769
6.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$3.19 Ft 999
64.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$1.73 Ft 543
110.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$19.12 Ft 5,990
-69.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$1.87 Ft 585
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$28.8K Ft 9.0M
-20.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$38.0K Ft 11.9M
-32.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$122 Ft 38.2K
-25.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$23.08 Ft 7,228
9.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$17.23 Ft 5,397
84.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$49.54 Ft 15.5K
38.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$18.87 Ft 5,911
55.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$7.99 Ft 2,504
-39.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$260 Ft 81.4K
-13.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$7,125 Ft 2.2M
-41.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$93.1 Ft 29.2K
-49.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$33.56 Ft 10.5K
29.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$76.5 Ft 24.0K
4.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$64.1 Ft 20.1K
42.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$533 Ft 167.0K
103.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$412 Ft 129.1K
-0.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$757 Ft 237.0K
160.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$660 Ft 206.8K
94.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$3,039 Ft 952.1K
33.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$2,656 Ft 831.9K
152.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tamási
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$1,218 Ft 381.5K
-36.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.67
71.66%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tamási: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $533 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 58% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $62.0 in Tamási. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Playa del Carmen vs $215 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 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,810 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,207 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 6% 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 $1,207, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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.

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