Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taguig City and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Taguig City: $1,123 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $970 less a year. The total is higher in Playa del Carmen despite lower rent and utilities.

Taguig City, Philippines
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Taguig City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,123
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taguig City and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Taguig City and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Taguig City vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Taguig City $1,123
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $1,737 per month in Taguig City vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Taguig City $1,737
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $2,352 per month in Taguig City vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Taguig City $2,352
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Taguig City is about 7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Taguig City and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Taguig City 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 ₱248
$10.92 MX$204
-64.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.67 ₱1,704
$43.37 MX$808
-38.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.18 ₱203
$11.78 MX$220
-73.01%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱161
$3.81 MX$71.0
-33.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₱45.72
$1.28 MX$23.90
-43.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₱27.83
$0.78 MX$14.59
-43.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ₱76.9
$3.17 MX$59.0
-62.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₱146
$4.93 MX$92.0
-53.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ₱117
$1.41 MX$26.22
29.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ₱88.8
$2.22 MX$41.33
-37.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 ₱52.4
$1.42 MX$26.42
-42.25%
Eggs
$1.83 ₱117
$2.52 MX$47.03
-27.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.91 ₱314
$7.26 MX$135
-32.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 ₱293
$7.70 MX$143
-40.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 ₱497
$12.69 MX$237
-38.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 ₱140
$2.78 MX$51.9
-21.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₱116
$1.37 MX$25.50
32.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ₱179
$2.55 MX$47.55
9.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 ₱66.5
$2.12 MX$39.58
-50.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 ₱110
$1.94 MX$36.13
-11.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 ₱168
$1.89 MX$35.16
39.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 ₱98.8
$1.15 MX$21.37
34.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₱35.06
$1.18 MX$21.98
-53.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90 ₱185
$4.30 MX$80.1
-32.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 ₱546
$9.95 MX$185
-14.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₱81.8
$1.58 MX$29.52
-18.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₱131
$2.67 MX$49.79
-23.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.58
$0.55 MX$10.31
-58.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.12 ₱838
$26.62 MX$496
-50.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 ₱45.35
$4.97 MX$92.6
-85.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱15.36
$3.33 MX$62.1
-92.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 ₱121
$5.36 MX$99.8
-64.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₱75.7
$1.44 MX$26.92
-18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ₱1.3M
$20.7K MX$385.2K
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$23.5K MX$437.4K
-19.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₱6,942
$84.8 MX$1,581
28.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.74 ₱1,005
$23.41 MX$436
-32.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.38 ₱1,494
$28.66 MX$534
-18.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.06 ₱1,857
$57.1 MX$1,063
-49.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ₱415
$5.14 MX$95.8
26.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,266
$207 MX$3,851
-37.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,655 ₱553.0K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
120.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.18 ₱2,631
$43.35 MX$808
-5.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.19 ₱1,737
$41.44 MX$772
-34.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.8 ₱4,266
$74.2 MX$1,383
-10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8 ₱3,626
$89.3 MX$1,664
-36.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 ₱52.6K
$980 MX$18.3K
-15.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ₱35.3K
$381 MX$7,099
44.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,346 ₱213.8K
$1,708 MX$31.8K
95.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 ₱72.0K
$1,075 MX$20.0K
4.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,275 ₱337.0K
$3,943 MX$73.5K
33.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,423 ₱218.7K
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-44.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taguig City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$462 ₱29.5K
$735 MX$13.7K
-37.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
11.45
-40.35%

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

Last update for Taguig City: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taguig City
$552
Playa del Carmen
$381 31% $171
Groceries & Markets
Taguig City
$193
Playa del Carmen
$255 32.2% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taguig City
$148
Playa del Carmen
$137 7.4% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Taguig City
$86
Playa del Carmen
$112 29.4% $25
Eating Out
Taguig City
$86
Playa del Carmen
$202 135% $116
Sport & Entertainment
Taguig City
$42
Playa del Carmen
$67 60.1% $25
Getting Around
Taguig City
$16
Playa del Carmen
$50 217% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $823 in Taguig City versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Taguig City versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $255 – making Taguig City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Taguig City
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
06:30 6:30 AM
17:30 5:30 PM
13 h behind Taguig City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,397
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.13 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taguig City Playa del Carmen 15,050 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taguig City
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Taguig City vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taguig City cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,684 per month in Taguig City and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Taguig City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $823 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Taguig City and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,123 in Taguig City and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Taguig City about 7% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Taguig City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 enough for either Taguig City or Playa del Carmen?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,123 in Taguig City and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Taguig City or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taguig City – 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 Taguig City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Taguig City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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