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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $354 per month in Tacna vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $465 per month in Tacna vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $576 per month in Tacna vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tacna is about 72% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tacna and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tacna 74% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$11.87 MX$204

-83.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$2.51 PEN 8.54

$3.45 MX$59.2

-27.25%

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.95 MX$16.28

-71.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

$1.38 MX$23.61

-36.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.85 MX$31.70

-27.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$1.61 MX$27.65

-45.96%

Eggs

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$2.59 MX$44.51

-45.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.27 PEN 14.51

$8.26 MX$142

-48.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 PEN 12.38

$8.37 MX$144

-56.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 PEN 28.87

$10.66 MX$183

-20.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$1.86 MX$31.88

-69.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$2.26 MX$38.81

-82.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$1.06 MX$18.23

-74.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$1.09 MX$18.67

-34.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.52

$4.15 MX$71.2

2.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.29 PEN 21.37

$10.39 MX$178

-39.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.55

$1.72 MX$29.59

45.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.54 MX$9.30

-46.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$3.13 MX$53.7

-54.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$19.20 PEN 65.3

$22.71 MX$390

-15.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.89 PEN 84.6

$29.46 MX$506

-15.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 PEN 96.0

$51.0 MX$875

-44.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$4.93 MX$84.5

-48.68%

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

$55.7 PEN 189

$197 MX$3,386

-71.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 PEN 66.4

$36.90 MX$633

-47.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 PEN 65.2

$39.89 MX$685

-51.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.10 PEN 85.4

$89.5 MX$1,536

-71.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.4 PEN 222

$477 MX$8,189

-86.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$466 PEN 1,586

$667 MX$11.4K

-30.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 43% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Tacna vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 259%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $530 per month in Tacna and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 100% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $55.7 per month in Tacna and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacna, where all-in costs run around $354, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Tacna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tacna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tacna. 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.