😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,193 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,736 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,279 in Temuco, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 6% more than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Temuco10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$7.21CLP 6,706
62.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$32.62CLP 30.4K
28.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$7.43CLP 6,910
41.45%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$3.89CLP 3,617
-7.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$2.33CLP 2,166
-35.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.23CLP 1,141
-25.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$3.83CLP 3,566
-22.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.46CLP 3,220
27.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.18CLP 1,101
18.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.47CLP 1,372
27.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.37CLP 1,271
13.87%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$3.45CLP 3,214
-24.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$9.64CLP 8,966
-13.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.37CLP 5,927
31.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$12.11CLP 11.3K
-10.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.93CLP 1,795
40.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.06CLP 1,919
-26.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.19CLP 2,038
-14.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.22CLP 2,068
-1.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$2.49CLP 2,314
-25.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$2.68CLP 2,496
-16.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.93CLP 1,797
-44.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.19CLP 1,104
-8.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.83CLP 4,498
-13.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$5.02CLP 4,674
107.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.63CLP 1,515
1.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.24CLP 2,088
16.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.87CLP 812
-37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$35.22CLP 32.8K
-25.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.88CLP 820
250.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.53CLP 1,425
56.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$9.92CLP 9,232
-68.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.45CLP 1,345
-9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$13.0KCLP 12.1M
129.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$18.5KCLP 17.2M
26.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$211CLP 196.6K
-61.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$11.86CLP 11.0K
90.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$14.93CLP 13.9K
101.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$50.0CLP 46.5K
5.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$48.95CLP 45.5K
-62.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$4.84CLP 4,500
1.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$232CLP 215.9K
-13.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$2,914CLP 2.7M
77.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$46.83CLP 43.6K
-23.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$18.67CLP 17.4K
114.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$69.1CLP 64.3K
15.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$88.5CLP 82.3K
-2.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$417CLP 387.6K
134.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$342CLP 317.9K
37.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$730CLP 679.3K
126.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$538CLP 500.8K
123.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,083CLP 1.9M
89.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,697CLP 1.6M
289.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$540CLP 502.1K
25.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.8
137.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Temuco: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $417 in Temuco. 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 25% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $242 – making Temuco 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 Temuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Temuco cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 6%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,789 in Temuco. 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 Temuco, 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 Temuco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,193 in Temuco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 35% less in Temuco. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Temuco?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Temuco, where all-in costs run around $1,193, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Temuco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Temuco more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Temuco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Temuco. 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