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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,003 in Tomsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,574 in Tomsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,144 in Tomsk, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 27% more than Tomsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tomsk are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Tomsk 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$6.27 ₽454
89.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$32.38 ₽2,346
32.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$5.87 ₽426
81.43%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$2.27 ₽164
51.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.98 ₽70.7
53.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.46 ₽33.18
106.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$1.25 ₽90.7
142.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$2.96 ₽215
55.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.14 ₽82.8
21.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$0.55 ₽39.73
236.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.82 ₽132
-11.54%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$1.66 ₽120
56.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$10.84 ₽785
-23.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$5.51 ₽399
51.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$8.97 ₽650
18.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$2.00 ₽145
31.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$1.97 ₽143
-24.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$2.13 ₽154
-9.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$3.76 ₽272
-44.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$0.69 ₽50.1
169.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$0.57 ₽41.41
296.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$1.05 ₽76.0
0.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.59 ₽42.43
84.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$2.47 ₽179
68.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$7.57 ₽548
37.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$0.85 ₽61.8
102.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$1.89 ₽137
38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$0.39 ₽28.33
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$26.30 ₽1,906
2.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$1.70 ₽123
84.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$0.25 ₽18.19
904.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$6.15 ₽446
-48.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$0.74 ₽53.6
71.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$31.1K ₽2.3M
-2.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$41.5K ₽3.0M
-43.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$114 ₽8,295
-27.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$5.13 ₽372
342.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$8.28 ₽600
255.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$63.1 ₽4,571
-19.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$25.32 ₽1,835
-27.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$5.84 ₽423
-15.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$76.5 ₽5,545
157.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$4,477 ₽324.4K
17.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$76.3 ₽5,532
-51.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$34.31 ₽2,486
16.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$133 ₽9,664
-40.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$181 ₽13.1K
-50.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$438 ₽31.7K
118.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$277 ₽20.1K
72.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$760 ₽55.1K
116.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$518 ₽37.5K
136.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$2,482 ₽179.8K
57.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$1,734 ₽125.6K
272.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$1,002 ₽72.6K
-33.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
22.08
-48.28%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tomsk: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $438 in Tomsk. 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 50% higher in Tomsk, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Tomsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $205 – making Tomsk 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 Tomsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tomsk cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 27%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,505 in Tomsk. 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 Tomsk, 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 vs Tomsk?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,003 in Tomsk. 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 2% less in Tomsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Tomsk?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tomsk, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Tomsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tomsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tomsk – 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 Tomsk?
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 Tomsk. 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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