Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tanay Rizal Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tanay Rizal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $811 in Tanay Rizal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,240 in Tanay Rizal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,668 in Tanay Rizal, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 60% 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 Carmen 3% lower, Tanay Rizal 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$3.47 ₱214
238.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$8.97 ₱554
363.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$3.65 ₱225
191.51%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$2.95 ₱182
19.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$0.55 ₱33.85
174.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.28 ₱17.33
246.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$1.21 ₱74.4
143.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$2.18 ₱134
104.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.73 ₱107
-20.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$1.61 ₱99.1
17.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$0.98 ₱60.5
67.35%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$2.05 ₱126
22.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$7.83 ₱483
6.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$5.27 ₱325
58.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$10.76 ₱664
-0.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.28 ₱141
14.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.58 ₱97.7
-7.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$3.09 ₱191
-38.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$1.19 ₱73.5
74.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.75 ₱108
1.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$3.60 ₱222
-39.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.07 ₱65.9
-2.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.85 ₱52.3
27.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$2.92 ₱180
39.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$7.96 ₱491
29.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.40 ₱86.5
22.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.54 ₱156
1.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$0.26 ₱15.89
96.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$0.77 ₱47.69
323.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$0.24 ₱14.89
937.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$2.19 ₱135
48.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.03 ₱63.8
27.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$28.4K ₱1.8M
6.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$17.5K ₱1.1M
34.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$129 ₱7,946
-35.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$32.50 ₱2,006
-31.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$21.00 ₱1,296
39.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$34.51 ₱2,129
49.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$4.47 ₱276
309.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$6.38 ₱394
-20.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$151 ₱9,296
33.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$4,237 ₱261.4K
23.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$26.32 ₱1,624
40.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$34.07 ₱2,102
16.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$43.68 ₱2,695
79.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$115 ₱7,076
-24.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$261 ₱16.1K
271.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$174 ₱10.7K
169.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$595 ₱36.7K
175.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$399 ₱24.6K
206.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$2,789 ₱172.1K
41.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$838 ₱51.7K
675.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tanay Rizal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tanay Rizal: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $261 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 $222 – 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 60%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,216 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 vs Tanay Rizal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $811 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 $201 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 Playa del Carmen or Tanay Rizal?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tanay Rizal, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.

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