😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,008 in Tomsk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,575 in Tomsk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,142 in Tomsk, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 25% more than Tomsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tomsk are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Tomsk24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$6.42₽511
82.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$31.90₽2,539
31.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$5.81₽462
80.90%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.24₽178
60.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.00₽79.7
51.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.42₽33.80
119.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.25₽99.6
136.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.12₽248
41.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.11₽88.3
26.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.57₽45.73
229.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.92₽153
-18.75%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.74₽138
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$10.85₽863
-23.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$5.70₽454
46.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$8.63₽687
25.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.95₽155
38.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.98₽158
-23.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.16₽172
-13.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$3.71₽296
-40.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.65₽51.8
186.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.53₽42.36
320.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.00₽79.6
7.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.62₽49.57
75.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.52₽201
66.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$7.24₽576
44.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.85₽67.3
95.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.80₽143
45.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.39₽31.14
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$26.41₽2,102
-0.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.63₽130
88.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.23₽18.27
943.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$6.04₽480
-48.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.73₽58.3
79.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$30.5K₽2.4M
-2.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$40.9K₽3.3M
-43.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$113₽8,974
-27.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$5.09₽405
343.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$7.92₽631
279.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$62.2₽4,950
-14.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$25.62₽2,039
-28.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$5.66₽450
-13.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$77.5₽6,168
159.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,447₽353.9K
16.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$76.4₽6,081
-52.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$34.28₽2,729
17.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$132₽10.5K
-39.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$184₽14.7K
-53.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$448₽35.6K
118.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$282₽22.4K
66.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$744₽59.2K
121.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$517₽41.2K
132.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,322₽184.8K
70.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,501₽119.4K
340.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tomsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$918₽73.0K
-26.27%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tomsk: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $448 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 36% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Tomsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $204 – 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 25%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,512 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 and in Tomsk?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,008 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 1% less in Tomsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tomsk?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tomsk, where all-in costs run around $1,008, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared