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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,037 in Tomsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,606 in Tomsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,176 in Tomsk, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 24% more than Tomsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tomsk are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Tomsk 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$6.45 ₽485
85.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$31.79 ₽2,388
34.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$5.62 ₽422
88.43%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.27 ₽170
59.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$1.02 ₽76.8
44.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.43 ₽32.23
118.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.24 ₽93.3
149.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$3.14 ₽236
42.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.11 ₽83.1
28.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.58 ₽43.45
224.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.85 ₽139
-11.89%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.72 ₽129
53.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$10.96 ₽823
-25.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$5.50 ₽413
50.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$8.97 ₽674
23.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.05 ₽154
29.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.98 ₽149
-24.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$2.15 ₽161
-7.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$3.77 ₽283
-44.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.70 ₽52.6
155.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.54 ₽40.19
303.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.06 ₽79.5
1.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.61 ₽46.02
70.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$2.58 ₽193
53.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$7.90 ₽593
29.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$0.93 ₽70.2
86.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.83 ₽137
36.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.39 ₽29.62
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$26.15 ₽1,964
3.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$1.68 ₽126
86.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.25 ₽18.85
860.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$6.07 ₽456
-49.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$0.69 ₽51.6
84.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$31.6K ₽2.4M
-2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$40.4K ₽3.0M
-42.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$114 ₽8,556
-28.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$5.09 ₽382
341.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$8.11 ₽609
265.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$61.1 ₽4,588
-15.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$25.54 ₽1,918
-26.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$5.55 ₽417
-10.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$75.0 ₽5,633
163.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$4,392 ₽329.9K
20.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$74.7 ₽5,611
-51.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$34.43 ₽2,586
16.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$135 ₽10.1K
-40.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$185 ₽13.9K
-51.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$445 ₽33.4K
116.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$278 ₽20.9K
67.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$753 ₽56.5K
112.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$500 ₽37.6K
141.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$2,153 ₽161.7K
83.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$1,504 ₽113.0K
328.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$804 ₽60.4K
-10.40%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Tomsk: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $445 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 12% 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: $251 vs $207 – 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 24%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,555 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,037 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 3% 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 $1,037, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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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