Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tucson, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tucson, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,438 in Tucson, AZ, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,590 in Tucson, AZ, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,742 in Tucson, AZ, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 47% cheaper than Tucson, AZ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Tucson, AZ is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

$18.19 $18.19

-35.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

$75.4 $75.4

-44.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

$12.05 $12.05

-13.61%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

$5.33 $5.33

-32.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MX$25.06

$2.86 $2.86

-48.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

$2.33 $2.33

-58.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

$5.83 $5.83

-49.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

$7.06 $7.06

-34.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$0.89 $0.89

60.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$3.27 $3.27

-41.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$5.07 $5.07

-69.03%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$4.28 $4.28

-38.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$11.19 $11.19

-24.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$11.84 $11.84

-27.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

$15.23 $15.23

-27.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

$5.01 $5.01

-46.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$1.89 $1.89

-20.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

$3.75 $3.75

-49.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

$4.21 $4.21

-48.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

$2.48 $2.48

-24.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

$2.51 $2.51

-11.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$1.99 $1.99

-45.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$2.46 $2.46

-56.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$9.05 $9.05

-54.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

$13.35 $13.35

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

$2.07 $2.07

-18.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

$3.52 $3.52

-28.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

$0.71 $0.71

-22.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

$20.05 $20.05

31.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$2.70 $2.70

18.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

$1.39 $1.39

76.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$36.65 $36.65

-91.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

$0.89 $0.89

48.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$518.8K

$30.8K $30.8K

-2.19%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$402.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

-12.28%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.4 MX$1,400

$272 $272

-70.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.41 MX$386

$71.2 $71.2

-68.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

$81.0 $81.0

-62.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

$39.97 $39.97

29.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

$10.18 $10.18

80.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

$12.76 $12.76

-59.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$202 MX$3,471

$1,091 $1,091

-81.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

$15.5K $15.5K

-65.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

$51.5 $51.5

-30.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

$38.55 $38.55

4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

$84.9 $84.9

-7.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

$105 $105

-17.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

$1,265 $1,265

-24.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

$1,103 $1,103

-56.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

$2,220 $2,220

-27.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

$1,805 $1,805

-32.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

$3,419 $3,419

17.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

$2,534 $2,534

155.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

$3,942 $3,942

-82.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.54

74.62%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Tucson, AZ: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,265 in Tucson, AZ. 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 486% higher in Tucson, AZ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $75.0 in Tucson, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $384 – 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 Tucson, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tucson, AZ is pricier by about 88%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,657 in Tucson, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $2,438 in Tucson, AZ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Tucson, AZ at $2,438. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tucson, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tucson, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.