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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,342 in Tokushima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,111 in Tokushima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,881 in Tokushima, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 6% cheaper than Tokushima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Tokushima is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$8.40 ¥1,365
42.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$34.91 ¥5,673
19.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$6.07 ¥986
77.10%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$3.09 ¥502
13.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.20 ¥195
20.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$0.76 ¥124
15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$3.46 ¥562
-14.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$3.06 ¥498
47.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.62 ¥263
-11.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$1.80 ¥293
2.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$5.11 ¥830
-69.28%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$2.52 ¥409
-0.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$17.41 ¥2,829
-52.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$7.85 ¥1,276
7.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$15.29 ¥2,484
-30.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$9.13 ¥1,483
-71.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$2.87 ¥466
-49.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$4.76 ¥773
-58.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$7.04 ¥1,144
-70.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$3.96 ¥644
-53.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$2.56 ¥417
-15.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$1.31 ¥214
-21.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$0.91 ¥147
17.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$3.38 ¥549
21.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$9.19 ¥1,492
10.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$2.84 ¥462
-40.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$2.29 ¥372
10.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$1.60 ¥260
-68.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$55.6 ¥9,038
-53.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$3.57 ¥579
-9.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$3.03 ¥492
-20.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$34.42 ¥5,592
-90.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$1.24 ¥202
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$23.3K ¥3.8M
27.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$16.7K ¥2.7M
41.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$143 ¥23.3K
-42.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$27.14 ¥4,410
-15.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$34.69 ¥5,636
-13.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$65.4 ¥10.6K
-20.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$13.71 ¥2,227
35.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$12.72 ¥2,067
-60.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$473 ¥76.8K
-58.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$11.5K ¥1.9M
-53.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$46.48 ¥7,553
-23.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$31.95 ¥5,192
26.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$56.8 ¥9,236
38.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$93.1 ¥15.1K
-4.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$462 ¥75.0K
105.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$332 ¥53.9K
42.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$862 ¥140.0K
90.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$666 ¥108.1K
81.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$4,353 ¥707.3K
-6.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$2,065 ¥335.5K
213.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tokushima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$1,387 ¥225.4K
-52.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
1.78
541.57%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tokushima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $462 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 112% higher in Tokushima, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Tokushima. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $390 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 – Tokushima is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,012 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,342 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 114% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tokushima?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Tokushima at $1,342. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokushima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tokushima more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tokushima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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