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 $453 per month in Tacna vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Tacna vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $853 per month in Tacna vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tacna is about 64% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tacna and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tacna 67% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 PEN 10.24

$11.60 MX$200

-73.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.86 PEN 49.88

$47.11 MX$812

-68.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 PEN 16.59

$11.88 MX$205

-58.42%

Cappuccino

$3.49 PEN 11.70

$3.98 MX$68.6

-12.31%

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

$1.22 PEN 4.11

$1.43 MX$24.60

-14.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 PEN 1.56

$0.82 MX$14.22

-43.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PEN 9.74

$3.19 MX$55.0

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 PEN 11.93

$6.79 MX$117

-47.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.88

$1.68 MX$28.89

-30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 PEN 5.06

$2.20 MX$37.88

-31.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.90

$1.71 MX$29.45

-49.12%

Eggs

$1.75 PEN 5.88

$2.74 MX$47.26

-36.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 PEN 15.07

$9.58 MX$165

-53.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 PEN 15.73

$9.01 MX$155

-47.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.14 PEN 30.67

$12.81 MX$221

-28.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.12

$1.50 MX$25.81

2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

$2.15 MX$37.03

-60.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.60

$1.98 MX$34.15

-60.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.58

$1.20 MX$20.63

-35.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.56 PEN 15.29

$4.55 MX$78.5

0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.49 PEN 21.79

$10.37 MX$179

-37.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 PEN 9.03

$1.62 MX$27.91

66.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.96

$0.60 MX$10.35

-51.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 PEN 6.54

$5.39 MX$92.9

-63.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

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

$18.95 PEN 63.6

$25.20 MX$435

-24.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.84 PEN 90.1

$31.24 MX$539

-14.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.96 PEN 101

$67.2 MX$1,159

-55.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$2.74 PEN 9.20

$4.86 MX$83.8

-43.62%

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

$59.2 PEN 199

$224 MX$3,856

-73.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.06 PEN 70.7

$47.10 MX$812

-55.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.66 PEN 69.3

$44.29 MX$764

-53.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.68 PEN 89.5

$92.7 MX$1,598

-71.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.5 PEN 240

$390 MX$6,728

-81.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 PEN 1,620

$758 MX$13.1K

-36.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Tacna: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 57% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Tacna versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $276 – making Tacna 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 179%, 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 $680 per month in Tacna and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $453 in Tacna and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $59.2 per month in Tacna and $224 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 $453, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.