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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Talcahuano vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,617 per month in Talcahuano vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,177 per month in Talcahuano vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Talcahuano is about 18% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Talcahuano and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Talcahuano 21% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.55 CLP 7,605

$11.94 MX$209

-28.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.14 CLP 39.2K

$42.75 MX$748

3.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 CLP 7,217

$10.59 MX$185

-23.32%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,417

$3.62 MX$63.4

-24.86%

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

$1.30 CLP 1,154

$1.47 MX$25.69

-11.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CLP 911

$0.94 MX$16.51

8.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 CLP 2,916

$3.09 MX$54.1

6.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 CLP 3,727

$4.46 MX$78.0

-6.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CLP 1,101

$1.43 MX$24.94

-13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,396

$1.88 MX$32.97

-16.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,643

$1.63 MX$28.50

13.50%

Eggs

$3.60 CLP 3,201

$2.64 MX$46.26

36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.34 CLP 9,194

$8.21 MX$144

25.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 CLP 5,817

$8.29 MX$145

-21.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.11 CLP 9,882

$11.10 MX$194

0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,622

$2.65 MX$46.40

-31.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,396

$1.50 MX$26.26

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,404

$1.99 MX$34.79

-20.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,280

$2.08 MX$36.33

-30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,092

$1.79 MX$31.29

-31.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,207

$2.18 MX$38.09

-37.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 CLP 1,074

$1.08 MX$18.84

12.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,086

$1.04 MX$18.15

17.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 CLP 4,751

$3.97 MX$69.5

34.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CLP 1,446

$1.73 MX$30.22

-5.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 CLP 1,959

$2.50 MX$43.71

-12.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 CLP 507

$0.52 MX$9.07

9.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 417

$3.14 MX$55.0

-85.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,269

$1.27 MX$22.28

12.60%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.1M

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-37.71%

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

$21.7K CLP 19.3M

$23.3K MX$408.0K

-6.83%

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

$131 CLP 116.6K

$82.0 MX$1,435

59.92%

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

$13.49 CLP 12.0K

$22.45 MX$393

-39.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.78 CLP 19.4K

$29.66 MX$519

-26.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.43 CLP 34.2K

$51.9 MX$908

-25.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.07 CLP 18.7K

$18.67 MX$327

12.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.71 CLP 5,074

$4.97 MX$87.0

14.89%

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

$437 CLP 388.3K

$198 MX$3,462

120.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 CLP 45.6K

$36.34 MX$636

40.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.20 CLP 26.9K

$40.05 MX$701

-24.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 CLP 55.5K

$79.9 MX$1,398

-21.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.4 CLP 73.3K

$88.9 MX$1,555

-7.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$480 CLP 426.5K

$963 MX$16.9K

-50.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 CLP 334.2K

$465 MX$8,133

-19.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 CLP 779.0K

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-45.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CLP 532.7K

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-50.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 CLP 600.8K

$720 MX$12.6K

-6.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

11.42

-54.64%

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

Last update for Talcahuano: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $480 in Talcahuano versus $963 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 7% 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 $44.00 in Talcahuano versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Talcahuano vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Talcahuano wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,585 per month in Talcahuano and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Talcahuano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,057 in Talcahuano and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $437 per month in Talcahuano and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Talcahuano, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Talcahuano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Talcahuano. 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.