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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $41 in Tanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $59 in Tanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $77 in Tanga, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 3014% more than Tanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tanga are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Tanga 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$1.53 TZS 3,990

662.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$3.58 TZS 9,344

190.50%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$0.59 TZS 1,552

511.86%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$0.32 TZS 846

359.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$0.37 TZS 969

145.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$1.00 TZS 2,616

203.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$1.14 TZS 2,980

292.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

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

$22.21 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

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

$198 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Tanga: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $0 in Tanga. 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 in Playa del Carmen versus $0 in Tanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $0 – making Tanga 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 Tanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 3014%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $60.8 in Tanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tanga, where all-in costs run around $40.50, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Tanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tanga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Tanga. 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.