😐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 Carmen5% lower, Treinta y Tres22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$13.28UYU 538
-10.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$43.53UYU 1,765
-1.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$8.50UYU 345
25.29%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.67UYU 108
29.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.20UYU 89.1
-31.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$1.69UYU 68.6
-43.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.15UYU 87.2
40.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$3.01UYU 122
53.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.10UYU 44.61
25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$2.19UYU 88.7
-15.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.58UYU 64.1
1.90%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$3.72UYU 151
-30.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$12.27UYU 498
-32.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$8.61UYU 349
-2.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$7.48UYU 303
42.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$2.15UYU 87.3
22.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.18UYU 48.00
26.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.44UYU 58.3
33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.32UYU 93.9
-9.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.19UYU 48.35
56.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.92UYU 77.9
17.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.11UYU 45.09
-4.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$1.67UYU 67.8
-34.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$5.12UYU 207
-18.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.49UYU 223
89.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$2.16UYU 87.8
-20.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.99UYU 121
-12.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.19UYU 48.42
163.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$2.30UYU 93.3
9.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$12.24UYU 496
-74.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.85UYU 75.0
-31.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$19.6KUYU 792.7K
55.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$35.6KUYU 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)
$83.0MX$1,425
$109UYU 4,433
-24.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$12.44UYU 504
82.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$36.78UYU 1,491
-19.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$29.74UYU 1,206
71.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$6.04UYU 245
-18.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$169UYU 6,836
17.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$2,637UYU 106.9K
100.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$60.2UYU 2,439
-38.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$19.33UYU 784
106.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$96.2UYU 3,901
-16.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$108UYU 4,386
-17.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$447UYU 18.1K
113.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$242UYU 9,806
97.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$610UYU 24.7K
169.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$373UYU 15.1K
227.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$786UYU 31.9K
398.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$730UYU 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared