😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $819 in Tanay Rizal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,239 in Tanay Rizal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,659 in Tanay Rizal, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 53% more than Tanay Rizal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tanay Rizal are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Tanay Rizal39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$3.49₱215
243.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$8.88₱548
370.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$3.53₱218
204.53%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.91₱180
20.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.55₱34.06
163.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.28₱17.48
214.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.26₱77.6
134.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.07₱128
117.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.80₱111
-20.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.63₱101
12.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.01₱62.5
55.45%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.08₱128
20.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$8.26₱509
0.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$5.28₱325
59.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$10.84₱668
-1.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.41₱149
8.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.52₱94.0
-5.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$3.04₱188
-35.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.14₱70.1
83.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.66₱103
11.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$3.59₱221
-39.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.10₱68.1
-6.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.82₱50.8
30.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$2.78₱172
47.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$7.74₱477
31.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.35₱83.3
24.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.51₱155
0.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.26₱16.03
96.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.82₱50.8
293.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.24₱14.88
904.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$2.08₱128
55.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.08₱66.9
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$28.8K₱1.8M
3.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$18.0K₱1.1M
31.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$130₱8,004
-36.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$32.31₱1,993
-28.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$20.85₱1,286
44.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$34.18₱2,108
52.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$4.41₱272
320.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.02₱371
-17.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$151₱9,332
30.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$4,290₱264.5K
24.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$26.09₱1,609
36.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$34.78₱2,145
15.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$43.93₱2,709
79.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$115₱7,089
-22.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$271₱16.7K
249.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$176₱10.9K
168.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$592₱36.5K
177.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$398₱24.5K
204.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$2,193₱135.3K
84.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$957₱59.0K
576.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.17
85.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tanay Rizal: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $271 in Tanay Rizal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $9.00 in Tanay Rizal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $223 – making Tanay Rizal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Tanay Rizal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanay Rizal cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 53%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,229 in Tanay Rizal. 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 Tanay Rizal, 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 Tanay Rizal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $819 in Tanay Rizal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $151 in Tanay Rizal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tanay Rizal?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tanay Rizal, where all-in costs run around $819, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Tanay Rizal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tanay Rizal more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tanay Rizal – 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 Tanay Rizal?
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 Tanay Rizal. 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