😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,041 in Terre Rouge, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,713 in Terre Rouge, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,386 in Terre Rouge, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 25% more than Terre Rouge, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Terre Rouge are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Terre Rouge25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$5.73MUR 268
108.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$37.99MUR 1,778
24.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$7.30MUR 342
60.96%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$2.73MUR 128
50.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.18MUR 55.2
18.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.63MUR 29.38
44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$2.58MUR 121
24.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.91MUR 183
80.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.42MUR 66.7
18.31%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.77MUR 36.19
179.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.14MUR 53.5
55.26%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$2.31MUR 108
22.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$5.36MUR 251
71.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$6.47MUR 303
42.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$11.25MUR 527
12.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$2.17MUR 101
35.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$2.42MUR 113
-34.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.44MUR 67.4
54.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$2.91MUR 136
-18.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$0.93MUR 43.72
113.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.00MUR 46.98
98.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.74MUR 34.70
67.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.89MUR 41.80
35.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$6.32MUR 296
-27.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$8.59MUR 402
22.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.70MUR 79.5
-0.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.30MUR 107
20.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$4.22MUR 197
24.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$3.20MUR 150
14.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$21.08MUR 987
-72.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.32MUR 61.9
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$32.6KMUR 1.5M
-30.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$31.1KMUR 1.5M
-17.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$45.98MUR 2,152
97.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$10.82MUR 506
132.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$29.17MUR 1,365
8.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$34.55MUR 1,617
99.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$6.29MUR 294
-22.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$126MUR 5,909
78.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$7,680MUR 359.4K
-45.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$68.7MUR 3,213
-30.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$70.2MUR 3,285
-38.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$113MUR 5,266
-28.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$79.2MUR 3,706
15.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$588MUR 27.5K
84.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$402MUR 18.8K
1.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$1,134MUR 53.1K
73.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$848MUR 39.7K
51.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Terre Rouge
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.34
80.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Terre Rouge: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $588 in Terre Rouge. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Terre Rouge. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $212 – making Terre Rouge 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 Terre Rouge: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terre Rouge cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,561 in Terre Rouge. 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 Terre Rouge, 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 Terre Rouge?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,041 in Terre Rouge. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $126 in Terre Rouge. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Terre Rouge?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Terre Rouge, where all-in costs run around $1,041, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Terre Rouge it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Terre Rouge more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Terre Rouge – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Terre Rouge?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Terre Rouge. 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