😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,113 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,656 in Temuco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,199 in Temuco, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 14% more than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Temuco19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$7.66CLP 7,309
51.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$31.48CLP 30.0K
49.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$7.14CLP 6,817
66.39%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$3.87CLP 3,693
2.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$2.25CLP 2,143
-36.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$1.15CLP 1,093
-28.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$3.72CLP 3,553
-14.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.35CLP 3,199
102.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.18CLP 1,121
42.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.43CLP 1,366
53.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.33CLP 1,265
28.57%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$3.48CLP 3,317
-21.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$9.25CLP 8,828
3.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.05CLP 5,774
48.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$11.72CLP 11.2K
9.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.87CLP 1,781
54.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.06CLP 1,965
-27.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$2.03CLP 1,939
5.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$2.24CLP 2,141
0.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$2.40CLP 2,291
-17.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$2.64CLP 2,519
-24.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$1.88CLP 1,792
-34.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$1.21CLP 1,154
-0.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$4.76CLP 4,545
-4.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$4.89CLP 4,665
112.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.56CLP 1,493
3.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.17CLP 2,072
32.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.90CLP 861
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$34.55CLP 33.0K
-16.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.87CLP 828
519.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.53CLP 1,463
143.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$9.48CLP 9,047
-39.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.36CLP 1,296
13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$12.5KCLP 12.0M
79.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$17.7KCLP 16.9M
46.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$140CLP 133.2K
-34.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$11.45CLP 10.9K
120.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$23.22CLP 22.2K
34.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$48.19CLP 46.0K
39.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$46.11CLP 44.0K
-36.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$4.79CLP 4,568
1.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$218CLP 207.8K
2.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$2,845CLP 2.7M
48.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$44.53CLP 42.5K
5.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$18.01CLP 17.2K
145.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$65.5CLP 62.5K
22.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$84.3CLP 80.4K
9.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$400CLP 382.0K
165.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$332CLP 316.7K
17.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$733CLP 699.7K
193.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$522CLP 498.2K
143.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$2,064CLP 2.0M
93.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$1,696CLP 1.6M
283.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Temuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$542CLP 516.8K
39.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.8
138.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Temuco: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $400 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 40% 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 $31.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $236 – 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 14%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,670 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,113 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 20% 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 $1,113, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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