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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,586 in Tubli, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,547 in Tubli, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,508 in Tubli, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 18% cheaper than Tubli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Tubli is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$6.61 BHD 2.49
80.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$53.5 BHD 20.15
-11.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$7.38 BHD 2.78
59.21%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$2.58 BHD 0.97
59.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$0.77 BHD 0.29
81.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$0.26 BHD 0.10
250.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$6.72 BHD 2.53
-52.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$10.06 BHD 3.79
-29.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.43 BHD 0.54
17.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$1.04 BHD 0.39
106.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$2.27 BHD 0.86
-22.03%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$2.22 BHD 0.84
27.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$8.82 BHD 3.33
4.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$6.59 BHD 2.48
40.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$8.78 BHD 3.31
43.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$2.29 BHD 0.86
28.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$2.31 BHD 0.87
-31.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$1.93 BHD 0.73
15.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$1.44 BHD 0.54
63.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$1.05 BHD 0.40
89.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.36 BHD 0.51
45.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$1.51 BHD 0.57
-17.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.79 BHD 0.30
53.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$5.35 BHD 2.02
-14.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$18.87 BHD 7.11
-44.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$3.62 BHD 1.37
-53.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$2.60 BHD 0.98
6.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$1.62 BHD 0.61
-62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$53.2 BHD 20.05
-44.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$5.43 BHD 2.05
-3.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$3.39 BHD 1.28
7.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$16.00 BHD 6.03
-63.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$0.66 BHD 0.25
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$36.8K BHD 13.9K
-38.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$20.3K BHD 7,636
27.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$91.9 BHD 34.63
-1.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$24.67 BHD 9.30
2.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$34.71 BHD 13.08
-8.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$160 BHD 60.3
-56.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$196 BHD 73.9
-85.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$10.79 BHD 4.07
-54.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$485 BHD 183
-53.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$3,956 BHD 1,491
6.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$50.5 BHD 19.05
-6.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$56.5 BHD 21.30
-23.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$87.0 BHD 32.79
-7.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$78.4 BHD 29.54
16.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$1,008 BHD 380
7.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$656 BHD 247
-37.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$1,566 BHD 590
25.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$1,178 BHD 444
8.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tubli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.21
84.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tubli: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,008 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $53.0 in Tubli. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Playa del Carmen vs $251 in Tubli – so Tubli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 22%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,380 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,586 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 79% 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 $1,305, than in Tubli at $1,586. 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

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