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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $184 in Toliara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $273 in Toliara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $363 in Toliara, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 589% more than Toliara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Toliara are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Toliara 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$199

$1.90 MGA 8,282

510.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$809

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$204

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.2

$0.84 MGA 3,658

373.81%

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

$1.43 MX$24.49

$0.66 MGA 2,873

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.76

$1.48 MGA 6,452

13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.71

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.32

$0.39 MGA 1,702

338.46%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.05

$2.19 MGA 9,536

25.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$4.89 MGA 21.4K

84.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$220

$5.18 MGA 22.6K

147.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.58

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.70

$0.71 MGA 3,105

111.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.79

$1.81 MGA 7,880

24.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.00

$0.53 MGA 2,328

273.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.54

$0.72 MGA 3,135

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.1

$1.82 MGA 7,955

150.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$178

$5.94 MGA 25.9K

74.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.79

$0.72 MGA 3,133

125.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.37

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,569

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

$25.20 MX$433

$17.16 MGA 74.9K

46.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$536

$34.95 MGA 152.5K

-10.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,154

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

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

$224 MX$3,839

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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 Toliara: September 13, 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 589%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $276 in Toliara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $184 in Toliara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 165% 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 $184, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.