😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $406 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $661 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $916 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 217% more than Tulsipur, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tulsipur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Tulsipur70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$1.87NPR 285
538.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$18.97NPR 2,881
125.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.73NPR 1,022
57.36%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.48NPR 225
144.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.54NPR 82.6
172.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.18NPR 27.87
422.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.57NPR 391
20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.72NPR 565
19.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.80NPR 122
78.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.58NPR 88.4
224.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.81NPR 123
101.23%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.66NPR 252
59.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.47NPR 1,135
9.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.22NPR 489
157.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$5.96NPR 905
86.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.27NPR 345
16.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.10NPR 167
36.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.24NPR 189
60.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.64NPR 96.9
225.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.46NPR 69.2
289.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.64NPR 96.7
240.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.50NPR 75.6
116.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.27NPR 41.27
285.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.92NPR 444
35.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.35NPR 357
-26.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.31NPR 503
-24.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.22NPR 33.46
136.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.13NPR 324
47.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.82NPR 125
192.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$3.73NPR 566
-17.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.26NPR 192
0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$32.3KNPR 4.9M
-4.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$40.6KNPR 6.2M
-42.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$26.85NPR 4,079
205.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$4.93NPR 748
355.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$9.81NPR 1,490
202.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$18.23NPR 2,769
184.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$2.67NPR 406
86.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$71.7NPR 10.9K
175.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$2,709NPR 411.6K
94.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$24.58NPR 3,734
47.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$28.17NPR 4,279
42.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$45.76NPR 6,952
74.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$29.04NPR 4,412
206.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$107NPR 16.2K
803.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$63.5NPR 9,643
632.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$209NPR 31.8K
663.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$144NPR 21.9K
737.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12.08
-5.46%
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 Tulsipur: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $107 in Tulsipur. 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 $19.00 in Tulsipur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $133 – making Tulsipur 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 Tulsipur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tulsipur cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 217%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $609 in Tulsipur. 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 Tulsipur, 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 Tulsipur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $406 in Tulsipur. 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 $71.7 in Tulsipur. 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 Tulsipur?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tulsipur, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Tulsipur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tulsipur more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tulsipur – 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 Tulsipur. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared