Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Treinta y Tres Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Treinta y Tres

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,042 in Treinta y Tres, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,596 in Treinta y Tres, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,150 in Treinta y Tres, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 22% more than Treinta y Tres, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Playa del Carmen and Treinta y Tres are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Treinta y Tres 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$13.28 UYU 538
-10.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$43.53 UYU 1,765
-1.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$8.50 UYU 345
25.29%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$2.67 UYU 108
29.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.20 UYU 89.1
-31.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$1.69 UYU 68.6
-43.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$2.15 UYU 87.2
40.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$3.01 UYU 122
53.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.10 UYU 44.61
25.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$2.19 UYU 88.7
-15.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$1.58 UYU 64.1
1.90%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$3.72 UYU 151
-30.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$12.27 UYU 498
-32.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$8.61 UYU 349
-2.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$7.48 UYU 303
42.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$2.15 UYU 87.3
22.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$1.18 UYU 48.00
26.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$1.44 UYU 58.3
33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$2.32 UYU 93.9
-9.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$1.19 UYU 48.35
56.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.92 UYU 77.9
17.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$1.11 UYU 45.09
-4.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$1.67 UYU 67.8
-34.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$5.12 UYU 207
-18.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$5.49 UYU 223
89.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$2.16 UYU 87.8
-20.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$2.99 UYU 121
-12.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$1.19 UYU 48.42
163.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$2.30 UYU 93.3
9.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$12.24 UYU 496
-74.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.85 UYU 75.0
-31.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$19.6K UYU 792.7K
55.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$35.6K UYU 1.4M
-33.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$109 UYU 4,433
-24.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$12.44 UYU 504
82.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$36.78 UYU 1,491
-19.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$29.74 UYU 1,206
71.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$6.04 UYU 245
-18.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$169 UYU 6,836
17.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$2,637 UYU 106.9K
100.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$60.2 UYU 2,439
-38.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$19.33 UYU 784
106.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$96.2 UYU 3,901
-16.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$108 UYU 4,386
-17.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$447 UYU 18.1K
113.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$242 UYU 9,806
97.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$610 UYU 24.7K
169.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$373 UYU 15.1K
227.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$786 UYU 31.9K
398.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$730 UYU 29.6K
-8.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%

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 Treinta y Tres: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $447 in Treinta y Tres. 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 9% higher in Treinta y Tres, 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 $44.00 in Treinta y Tres. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Treinta y Tres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Treinta y Tres cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,564 in Treinta y Tres. 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 Treinta y Tres, 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 Treinta y Tres?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,042 in Treinta y Tres. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $169 in Treinta y Tres. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Treinta y Tres?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Treinta y Tres, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Treinta y Tres it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Treinta y Tres more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Treinta y Tres – 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 Treinta y Tres?
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 Treinta y Tres. 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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