😐A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $399 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $658 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $916 in Tulsipur, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 225% more than Tulsipur, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Tulsipur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Tulsipur70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$1.78NPR 270
558.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$18.72NPR 2,832
123.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$6.74NPR 1,020
54.45%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$1.49NPR 225
142.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$0.54NPR 81.0
170.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$0.16NPR 24.27
506.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$2.67NPR 404
9.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$3.71NPR 561
24.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$0.79NPR 120
81.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$0.59NPR 88.6
222.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$0.75NPR 114
109.33%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$1.72NPR 261
53.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$7.21NPR 1,092
17.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$3.26NPR 493
163.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$6.14NPR 929
79.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$2.29NPR 346
17.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$1.08NPR 163
39.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$1.24NPR 187
54.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$0.65NPR 97.8
233.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$0.49NPR 74.3
281.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$0.63NPR 95.0
253.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.49NPR 74.8
120.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.27NPR 41.10
296.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$2.87NPR 434
44.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$2.34NPR 355
-28.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$3.19NPR 483
-20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$0.22NPR 32.70
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$2.21NPR 335
44.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$0.75NPR 114
228.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$3.66NPR 554
-12.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$1.21NPR 184
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$32.3KNPR 4.9M
-6.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$40.7KNPR 6.2M
-42.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$26.55NPR 4,018
206.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$4.98NPR 754
350.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$9.75NPR 1,475
207.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$18.25NPR 2,761
182.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$2.78NPR 421
85.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$73.5NPR 11.1K
174.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$2,789NPR 422.0K
90.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$25.26NPR 3,821
40.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$27.61NPR 4,178
46.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$46.37NPR 7,015
69.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$29.03NPR 4,393
199.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$104NPR 15.8K
809.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$63.9NPR 9,671
648.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$203NPR 30.7K
698.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$147NPR 22.3K
730.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tulsipur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
-
-
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Tulsipur: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $104 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: $254 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 225%, 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $598 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 $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $399 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 $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $73.5 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 $399, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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