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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $638 in Tulkarm, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $882 in Tulkarm, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,126 in Tulkarm, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 104% more than Tulkarm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tulkarm are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Tulkarm 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$5.67 ₪17.18

110.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$7.86 ₪23.83

49.49%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$2.32 ₪7.02

77.59%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$0.69 ₪2.08

102.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$1.70 ₪5.14

114.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$2.34 ₪7.09

-34.19%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$178 ₪539

-49.01%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$25.36 ₪76.8

-0.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$39.84 ₪121

-20.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$39.91 ₪121

72.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

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

$226 MX$3,828

$101 ₪306

123.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$32.14 ₪97.4

47.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$40.65 ₪123

6.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$49.29 ₪149

62.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$251 ₪760

332.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$183 ₪556

122.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$606 ₪1,836

225.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$441 ₪1,336

190.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$836 ₪2,532

-7.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

4.5

154.44%

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 Tulkarm: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $251 in Tulkarm. 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 8% higher in Tulkarm, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Tulkarm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 104%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $958 in Tulkarm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tulkarm, 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $638 in Tulkarm. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $101 in Tulkarm. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tulkarm, where all-in costs run around $638, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Tulkarm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tulkarm – 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 Tulkarm. 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.