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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,238 in Tokushima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,016 in Tokushima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,793 in Tokushima, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 4% more than Tokushima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tokushima are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Tokushima 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$6.83 ¥1,067
71.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$30.72 ¥4,800
51.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$4.93 ¥770
136.31%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$2.46 ¥385
66.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$1.29 ¥202
6.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.80 ¥126
3.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$3.05 ¥476
9.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$3.14 ¥491
120.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$1.51 ¥236
14.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$1.47 ¥230
53.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$4.18 ¥653
-57.66%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$2.12 ¥331
28.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$15.73 ¥2,458
-41.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$7.09 ¥1,107
25.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$16.73 ¥2,614
-24.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$8.13 ¥1,270
-62.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$3.01 ¥470
-47.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$4.82 ¥753
-55.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$6.30 ¥984
-64.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$3.70 ¥579
-45.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$3.82 ¥596
-46.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$1.12 ¥175
5.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.84 ¥131
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$3.81 ¥595
21.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$9.60 ¥1,500
11.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$2.58 ¥404
-37.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$2.09 ¥326
37.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$1.50 ¥234
-62.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$55.3 ¥8,641
-46.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$3.08 ¥481
76.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$2.76 ¥431
34.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$31.60 ¥4,937
-81.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$1.05 ¥165
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$21.6K ¥3.4M
3.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$14.9K ¥2.3M
74.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$114 ¥17.9K
-22.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$22.70 ¥3,546
10.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$30.80 ¥4,811
2.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
$58.7 ¥9,172
15.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$25.52 ¥3,987
13.32%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$11.18 ¥1,747
-54.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$567 ¥88.5K
-60.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-71.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$49.54 ¥7,739
-4.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$35.52 ¥5,550
26.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$59.3 ¥9,268
38.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$96.7 ¥15.1K
-4.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$466 ¥72.9K
129.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
$326 ¥50.9K
24.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$1,062 ¥166.0K
82.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$718 ¥112.2K
81.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$4,277 ¥668.1K
-6.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$1,909 ¥298.2K
247.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$1,420 ¥221.9K
-47.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
1.66
589.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Tokushima: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $466 in Tokushima. 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 90% higher in Tokushima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $31.00 in Tokushima. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Playa del Carmen vs $367 in Tokushima – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Tokushima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tokushima cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,857 in Tokushima. 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 Tokushima, 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 Tokushima?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $1,238 in Tokushima. 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 85% less in Tokushima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tokushima?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tokushima, where all-in costs run around $1,238, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Tokushima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tokushima more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tokushima – 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 Tokushima. 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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