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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $628 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,007 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,385 in Taraz, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 108% more than Taraz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Taraz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Taraz 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$8.60 ₸3,875

39.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$22.04 ₸9,933

114.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$6.47 ₸2,915

81.61%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$1.57 ₸709

162.42%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$0.91 ₸408

53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$0.46 ₸206

97.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

$1.08 ₸485

197.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$1.78 ₸803

297.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$1.09 ₸490

54.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$0.41 ₸183

424.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$1.34 ₸604

32.09%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$1.73 ₸778

63.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$10.19 ₸4,592

-9.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$5.16 ₸2,323

78.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$8.45 ₸3,810

49.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$1.20 ₸541

145.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$2.18 ₸983

-27.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$2.57 ₸1,160

-13.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$1.41 ₸634

67.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$0.51 ₸232

290.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$0.40 ₸180

395.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$0.96 ₸434

29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$0.78 ₸352

55.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$2.49 ₸1,120

84.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

$4.39 ₸1,978

139.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

$1.04 ₸467

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

$1.57 ₸710

76.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.20 ₸89.9

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$0.89 ₸401

488.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$0.38 ₸170

860.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$3.84 ₸1,731

50.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.64 ₸288

140.63%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$27.7K ₸12.5M

-17.56%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$27.4K ₸12.3M

-5.78%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$46.57 ₸21.0K

94.70%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$8.57 ₸3,861

193.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$8.84 ₸3,985

259.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$36.31 ₸16.4K

89.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$4.35 ₸1,960

11.72%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$57.6 ₸25.9K

291.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$26.34 ₸11.9K

79.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$33.85 ₸15.3K

28.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$111 ₸50.0K

-27.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$52.9 ₸23.9K

72.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$268 ₸120.8K

304.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$112 ₸50.3K

265.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$437 ₸196.9K

351.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$200 ₸90.2K

540.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

$836 ₸376.7K

384.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

$598 ₸269.5K

1020.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$276 ₸124.3K

180.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

17.83

-35.78%

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 Taraz: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $268 in Taraz. 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 180% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $22.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $178 – making Taraz 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 Taraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 108%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $942 in Taraz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taraz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $628 in Taraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $57.6 in Taraz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taraz, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Taraz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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.

If budget matters most, go with Taraz. 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.