😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $393 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $650 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $907 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 220% more than Tulsipur, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tulsipur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Tulsipur70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$1.84NPR 281
536.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$18.70NPR 2,855
124.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$6.58NPR 1,004
59.73%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.48NPR 226
142.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.50NPR 76.4
202.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.15NPR 23.53
513.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.63NPR 402
12.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.68NPR 562
19.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.79NPR 120
77.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.55NPR 84.4
241.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$0.80NPR 123
95.00%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.71NPR 261
52.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$7.62NPR 1,163
9.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.20NPR 489
160.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$6.01NPR 918
80.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.21NPR 337
22.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.05NPR 160
43.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.20NPR 183
55.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.68NPR 104
222.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.49NPR 74.3
279.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.68NPR 104
227.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.49NPR 75.1
118.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.27NPR 41.62
303.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.88NPR 440
45.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$2.29NPR 350
-27.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$3.36NPR 513
-22.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.19NPR 29.21
184.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$2.22NPR 338
38.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.75NPR 115
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$3.58NPR 546
-12.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.27NPR 193
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$32.0KNPR 4.9M
-6.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$41.1KNPR 6.3M
-43.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$26.90NPR 4,105
202.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$5.02NPR 767
349.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$9.69NPR 1,479
210.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$18.05NPR 2,755
193.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$2.74NPR 418
79.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$73.4NPR 11.2K
173.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$2,710NPR 413.6K
90.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$24.85NPR 3,793
44.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$27.44NPR 4,188
46.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$46.33NPR 7,072
72.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$28.58NPR 4,362
202.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$103NPR 15.7K
850.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$64.2NPR 9,792
633.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$210NPR 32.0K
687.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$143NPR 21.8K
744.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tulsipur: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $103 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Tulsipur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $132 – 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 220%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $590 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 and in Tulsipur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $393 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $73.4 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Tulsipur?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tulsipur, where all-in costs run around $393, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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