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

😐 Solo nomad: Taichung is 0 than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taichung is 23.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 9.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98 NT$147
$11.99 MX$227
-58.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.94 NT$883
$42.47 MX$803
-29.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 NT$157
$10.47 MX$198
-49.09%
Cappuccino
$2.91 NT$85.9
$3.6 MX$68.2
-19.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 NT$32.91
$1.44 MX$27.16
-22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 NT$25.31
$0.89 MX$16.79
-3.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 NT$63.2
$3.09 MX$58.5
-30.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 NT$87.3
$4.58 MX$86.6
-35.37%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.74 NT$110
$1.38 MX$26.04
171.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 NT$52.3
$1.85 MX$34.9
-4.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 NT$81.3
$1.57 MX$29.68
75.80%
Eggs
$3.24 NT$95.5
$2.55 MX$48.3
27.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.12 NT$918
$8.61 MX$163
261.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 NT$236
$8.54 MX$161
-6.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.12 NT$476
$10.98 MX$208
46.81%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 NT$137
$2.72 MX$51.4
70.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 NT$53.4
$1.51 MX$28.57
19.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 NT$64.7
$1.88 MX$35.63
16.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.97 NT$87.6
$2.19 MX$41.42
35.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 NT$39.66
$1.87 MX$35.3
-28.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 NT$57.3
$2.19 MX$41.37
-11.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 NT$68.1
$1.07 MX$20.23
115.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 NT$36.88
$1.09 MX$20.64
14.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 NT$120
$3.96 MX$74.9
2.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.99 NT$413
$8.86 MX$167
57.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 NT$50.9
$1.72 MX$32.53
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 NT$78.2
$2.61 MX$49.37
1.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 NT$27.28
$0.52 MX$9.74
76.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.28 NT$834
$26.59 MX$503
6.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.8 NT$82.6
$3.24 MX$61.2
-13.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 NT$36.31
$2.38 MX$44.94
-48.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.19 NT$301
$3.11 MX$58.7
227.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1 NT$29.62
$1.31 MX$24.85
-23.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K NT$1M
$30.3K MX$573K
13.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K NT$762.5K
$24K MX$453.6K
7.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.5 NT$2,875
$84.2 MX$1,592
15.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.72 NT$729
$22.14 MX$419
11.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.97 NT$648
$30.14 MX$570
-27.11%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.59 NT$1,079
$52 MX$983
-29.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.01 NT$295
$18.72 MX$354
-46.53%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55 NT$311
$5.07 MX$95.9
108.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$353 NT$10.4K
$200 MX$3,787
76.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K NT$601K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
282.07%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 NT$2,504
$35.74 MX$676
137.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33 NT$1,013
$39.8 MX$753
-13.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 NT$2,856
$79 MX$1,493
22.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 NT$3,817
$88.4 MX$1,671
46.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 NT$11.4K
$965 MX$18.3K
-59.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 NT$8,573
$474 MX$8,968
-38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 NT$30K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-38.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$733 NT$21.6K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-39.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,529 NT$222.1K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
144.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,064 NT$237.9K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
7.11%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Taichung
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,461 NT$43.1K
$792 MX$15K
84.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.18
11.42
-80.91%

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

Last update for Taichung: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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