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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $178 in Toliara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $262 in Toliara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $345 in Toliara, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 606% more than Toliara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Toliara are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Toliara 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$1.80 MGA 7,777

551.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$0.75 MGA 3,230

378.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.64 MGA 2,763

135.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.37 MGA 5,887

2.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$0.38 MGA 1,618

310.53%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$2.10 MGA 9,039

24.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$4.52 MGA 19.5K

84.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$5.01 MGA 21.6K

116.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$0.66 MGA 2,830

128.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$1.68 MGA 7,246

30.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.51 MGA 2,204

264.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.70 MGA 2,998

55.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$1.75 MGA 7,549

139.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$5.91 MGA 25.5K

76.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$0.65 MGA 2,798

155.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K MX$515.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$403.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 MX$1,406

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.56 MX$390

$16.57 MGA 71.4K

36.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$32.93 MGA 142.0K

-8.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Toliara: July 27, 2026

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 Toliara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 606%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $268 in Toliara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $178 in Toliara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 155% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Toliara, where all-in costs run around $178, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Toliara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Toliara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Toliara. 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.