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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,200 in Temuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,768 in Temuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,335 in Temuco, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 7% more than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Temuco 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$6.99 CLP 6,215
70.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$32.11 CLP 28.6K
33.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$7.74 CLP 6,886
36.82%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$3.87 CLP 3,445
-6.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$2.32 CLP 2,067
-36.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$1.28 CLP 1,136
-26.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$3.69 CLP 3,285
-16.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$3.47 CLP 3,088
28.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.18 CLP 1,046
21.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.47 CLP 1,307
27.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.31 CLP 1,162
24.43%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$3.54 CLP 3,149
-25.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$9.63 CLP 8,561
-14.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$6.05 CLP 5,375
37.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$12.01 CLP 10.7K
-7.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.95 CLP 1,735
35.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$2.09 CLP 1,860
-28.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$2.13 CLP 1,891
-6.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.25 CLP 1,998
-7.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$2.47 CLP 2,199
-27.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$2.60 CLP 2,311
-16.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.93 CLP 1,717
-44.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$1.19 CLP 1,056
-12.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$4.78 CLP 4,253
-16.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$5.16 CLP 4,590
97.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.58 CLP 1,401
9.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$2.13 CLP 1,896
17.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.86 CLP 761
-39.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$34.54 CLP 30.7K
-21.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.84 CLP 744
273.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.55 CLP 1,381
54.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$9.97 CLP 8,868
-69.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.41 CLP 1,258
-9.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$13.2K CLP 11.7M
134.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$18.3K CLP 16.3M
27.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$217 CLP 192.6K
-62.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$11.89 CLP 10.6K
88.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$14.96 CLP 13.3K
98.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$49.69 CLP 44.2K
4.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$48.98 CLP 43.6K
-61.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$4.83 CLP 4,299
2.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$228 CLP 202.8K
-13.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$2,869 CLP 2.6M
83.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$45.94 CLP 40.8K
-20.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$18.48 CLP 16.4K
116.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$69.4 CLP 61.7K
15.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$88.3 CLP 78.5K
0.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$422 CLP 375.2K
128.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$343 CLP 304.9K
35.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$740 CLP 658.0K
115.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$524 CLP 465.7K
130.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$2,187 CLP 1.9M
80.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$1,837 CLP 1.6M
251.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$585 CLP 520.0K
23.19%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Temuco: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $422 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 23% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $240 – 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 7%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,800 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 vs Temuco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,200 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 28% less in Temuco. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Temuco?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Temuco, where all-in costs run around $1,200, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.

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