😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,189 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,758 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,327 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 Carmen5% lower, Temuco12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$7.22CLP 6,486
64.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$32.40CLP 29.1K
32.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$7.53CLP 6,764
41.43%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$3.93CLP 3,535
-12.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.29CLP 2,055
-34.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$1.27CLP 1,144
-25.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$3.69CLP 3,319
-17.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$3.43CLP 3,080
34.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.19CLP 1,067
15.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.47CLP 1,324
25.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.30CLP 1,173
23.85%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$3.40CLP 3,053
-23.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.49CLP 8,526
-12.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$6.33CLP 5,686
32.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$12.04CLP 10.8K
-11.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.89CLP 1,700
39.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.07CLP 1,860
-28.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.21CLP 1,988
-13.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.28CLP 2,052
-8.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$2.46CLP 2,209
-24.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$2.60CLP 2,333
-13.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.96CLP 1,759
-45.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$1.23CLP 1,107
-11.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$4.77CLP 4,291
-13.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.09CLP 4,572
104.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.57CLP 1,412
9.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.15CLP 1,935
21.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.88CLP 788
-38.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$35.47CLP 31.9K
-24.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.84CLP 754
272.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.56CLP 1,399
60.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$9.58CLP 8,607
-67.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.42CLP 1,274
-10.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$13.0KCLP 11.7M
134.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$18.1KCLP 16.2M
30.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$219CLP 196.6K
-62.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$11.78CLP 10.6K
92.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$14.90CLP 13.4K
97.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$50.6CLP 45.5K
0.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$47.64CLP 42.8K
-61.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$4.72CLP 4,238
4.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$227CLP 204.4K
-13.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$2,864CLP 2.6M
84.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$47.54CLP 42.7K
-22.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$18.02CLP 16.2K
121.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$68.1CLP 61.2K
17.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$89.1CLP 80.1K
0.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$417CLP 375.2K
129.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$344CLP 309.2K
38.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$735CLP 660.1K
124.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$538CLP 483.2K
127.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$2,082CLP 1.9M
88.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,780CLP 1.6M
262.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$555CLP 498.8K
20.17%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Temuco: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 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 20% 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: $250 vs $241 – 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,783 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,189 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 32% 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 $1,189, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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