🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,631 in Tubli, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,545 in Tubli, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,458 in Tubli, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 23% cheaper than Tubli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Tubli is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$6.51BHD 2.45
84.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$52.6BHD 19.82
-20.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$7.39BHD 2.79
45.47%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.58BHD 0.97
35.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.83BHD 0.31
74.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.28BHD 0.11
214.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$7.91BHD 2.98
-62.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$10.42BHD 3.93
-56.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.64BHD 0.62
-12.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.08BHD 0.41
70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$2.33BHD 0.88
-32.62%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.38BHD 0.90
5.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$8.86BHD 3.34
-6.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$7.59BHD 2.86
11.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$10.16BHD 3.83
5.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.42BHD 0.91
7.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$2.12BHD 0.80
-32.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.75BHD 0.66
12.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.17BHD 0.44
78.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.95BHD 0.36
94.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.08BHD 0.41
100.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.45BHD 0.55
-28.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.92BHD 0.35
16.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$6.51BHD 2.45
-37.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$18.82BHD 7.09
-45.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$3.33BHD 1.25
-49.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$3.21BHD 1.21
-21.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.56BHD 0.59
-67.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$53.2BHD 20.07
-51.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$4.72BHD 1.78
-31.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$4.04BHD 1.52
-40.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$26.44BHD 9.96
-87.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$0.55BHD 0.21
140.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$37.0KBHD 14.0K
-19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$20.9KBHD 7,868
13.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$94.4BHD 35.58
-13.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$26.76BHD 10.09
-14.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$38.79BHD 14.62
-22.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$162BHD 61.0
-67.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$78.4BHD 29.53
-76.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$10.44BHD 3.93
-52.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$385BHD 145
-48.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$3,978BHD 1,499
34.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$45.48BHD 17.14
-21.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$63.8BHD 24.05
-36.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$83.7BHD 31.53
-5.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$80.0BHD 30.17
11.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$997BHD 376
-4.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$656BHD 247
-27.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,580BHD 596
4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$1,207BHD 455
0.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.56
33.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tubli: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $997 in Tubli. 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 $53.0 in Tubli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $261 – 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 Tubli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tubli cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Tubli is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,446 in Tubli. 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Tubli?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,631 in Tubli. 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 104% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tubli?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Tubli at $1,631. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tubli it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tubli more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Tubli?
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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tubli makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared