Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tsumeb Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tsumeb

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $766 in Tsumeb, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,264 in Tsumeb, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,763 in Tsumeb, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 68% more than Tsumeb, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tsumeb are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Tsumeb 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$16.52 NAD 277
-27.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$36.90 NAD 619
15.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$8.85 NAD 148
19.66%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.18 NAD 36.48
66.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$2.16 NAD 36.23
-31.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$2.09 NAD 35.09
-55.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$2.45 NAD 41.03
26.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$1.20 NAD 20.07
271.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.33 NAD 22.30
7.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.75 NAD 12.56
150.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.54 NAD 25.87
5.84%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$2.70 NAD 45.24
-2.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$13.49 NAD 226
-39.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$3.37 NAD 56.6
145.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$9.95 NAD 167
11.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.26 NAD 37.97
17.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$2.73 NAD 45.81
-45.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$2.49 NAD 41.76
-20.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.03 NAD 34.09
2.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$2.19 NAD 36.80
-18.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.58 NAD 26.55
37.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.49 NAD 24.91
-27.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.98 NAD 16.51
6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$3.06 NAD 51.3
29.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$3.84 NAD 64.5
165.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$0.92 NAD 15.38
88.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.24 NAD 20.88
101.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.85 NAD 14.28
269.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.79 NAD 13.21
203.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.20 NAD 20.14
5.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$28.4K NAD 476.2K
8.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$21.1K NAD 353.7K
10.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$28.20 NAD 473
5.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$21.89 NAD 367
136.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$39.42 NAD 661
401.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$41.12 NAD 690
-11.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$26.89 NAD 451
48.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$43.31 NAD 726
84.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$48.23 NAD 809
84.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$268 NAD 4,499
259.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$207 NAD 3,477
124.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$453 NAD 7,594
252.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$369 NAD 6,186
227.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tsumeb
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Tsumeb: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $268 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Tsumeb. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $215 – 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 Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,149 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 vs Tsumeb?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $766 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 $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $39.42 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 Playa del Carmen or Tsumeb?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tsumeb, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.

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