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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,224 in Tarnow, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,704 in Tarnow, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,185 in Tarnow, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 6% more than Tarnow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tarnow are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Tarnow 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

$10.59 zł 39.34

10.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$787

$26.48 zł 98.3

75.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

$6.71 zł 24.92

73.62%

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.2

$2.64 zł 9.82

54.92%

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

$1.37 MX$23.23

$2.25 zł 8.36

-39.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.09

$1.31 zł 4.86

-36.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.7

$4.15 zł 15.40

-19.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

$3.98 zł 14.79

73.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.19

$0.98 zł 3.64

76.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.20

$1.22 zł 4.54

85.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.90

$1.35 zł 5.02

31.11%

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.18

$2.65 zł 9.85

3.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

$8.12 zł 30.17

13.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

$6.22 zł 23.09

43.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

$10.19 zł 37.83

23.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.1

$0.79 zł 2.95

282.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.54

$1.57 zł 5.81

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.92

$1.36 zł 5.06

56.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.27

$2.00 zł 7.41

13.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.87

$0.79 zł 2.94

153.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.89

$1.10 zł 4.07

87.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.94

$1.04 zł 3.87

13.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.35

$0.79 zł 2.95

51.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.3

$4.44 zł 16.48

4.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$181

$6.54 zł 24.28

63.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.37

$0.95 zł 3.53

70.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.69

$1.46 zł 5.42

97.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.69

$0.99 zł 3.69

-42.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

$31.60 zł 117

-5.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.1

$1.35 zł 5.02

303.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

$0.77 zł 2.85

380.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

$10.79 zł 40.06

-44.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.25

$1.58 zł 5.87

-1.90%

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

$22.3K MX$377.3K

$32.0K zł 119.0K

-30.30%

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

$25.9K MX$438.5K

$25.7K zł 95.4K

0.99%

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

$89.1 MX$1,506

$252 zł 937

-64.68%

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

$25.04 MX$423

$9.85 zł 36.58

154.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

$17.19 zł 63.8

83.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,145

$26.33 zł 97.8

157.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$489

$11.99 zł 44.52

141.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.3

$4.89 zł 18.16

3.27%

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

$225 MX$3,802

$297 zł 1,103

-24.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.4K

$2,616 zł 9,716

61.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$802

$83.2 zł 309

-42.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$760

$26.53 zł 98.6

69.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,386

$79.7 zł 296

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,556

$116 zł 431

-20.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$454 zł 1,688

135.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,850

$363 zł 1,348

11.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

$640 zł 2,378

202.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

$488 zł 1,813

166.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

$2,785 zł 10.3K

43.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.0K

$1,832 zł 6,806

261.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

$1,071 zł 3,980

-30.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.68

71.41%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Tarnow: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $454 in Tarnow. 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 43% higher in Tarnow, 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 $26.00 in Tarnow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $192 – making Tarnow 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 Tarnow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 6%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,836 in Tarnow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tarnow, 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $1,224 in Tarnow. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% less in Tarnow. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tarnow, where all-in costs run around $1,224, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Tarnow it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tarnow – 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 Tarnow. 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.