😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $751 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,238 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,725 in Tsumeb, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 68% more than Tsumeb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tsumeb are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Tsumeb44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$16.84NAD 278
-30.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$37.47NAD 620
11.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$9.02NAD 149
16.52%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.19NAD 36.17
63.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$2.24NAD 37.06
-32.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$2.12NAD 35.11
-56.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.41NAD 39.88
22.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.20NAD 19.86
267.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.37NAD 22.73
2.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.76NAD 12.51
147.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.55NAD 25.63
0.65%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.60NAD 42.95
0.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$13.47NAD 223
-38.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.30NAD 54.5
153.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$9.79NAD 162
10.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.21NAD 36.62
22.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.73NAD 45.24
-44.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.64NAD 43.60
-29.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.06NAD 34.13
6.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$2.13NAD 35.25
-12.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.63NAD 26.98
36.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.43NAD 23.61
-25.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.94NAD 15.54
15.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$3.04NAD 50.3
37.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.86NAD 14.16
93.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.21NAD 19.96
115.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.82NAD 13.64
275.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.83NAD 13.74
189.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.20NAD 19.84
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$27.9KNAD 461.5K
6.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$21.2KNAD 349.9K
10.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$28.13NAD 465
6.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$22.02NAD 364
140.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$39.53NAD 654
407.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$40.97NAD 678
-12.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$26.56NAD 439
51.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$42.78NAD 708
86.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$48.91NAD 809
76.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$260NAD 4,293
276.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$209NAD 3,459
124.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$458NAD 7,570
260.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$357NAD 5,909
236.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9
26.89%
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 Tsumeb: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $260 in Tsumeb. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Tsumeb. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $206 – making Tsumeb 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 Tsumeb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tsumeb cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,126 in Tsumeb. 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 Tsumeb, 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 Tsumeb?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $751 in Tsumeb. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $39.53 in Tsumeb. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tsumeb?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tsumeb, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Tsumeb it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tsumeb more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tsumeb – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tsumeb. 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