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 $1,102 per month in Talcahuano vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,655 per month in Talcahuano vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,208 per month in Talcahuano vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Talcahuano is about 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Talcahuano and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Talcahuano 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.52 CLP 7,930

$11.72 MX$203

-27.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.93 CLP 41.8K

$41.89 MX$725

7.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 CLP 7,377

$10.51 MX$182

-24.55%

Cappuccino

$2.76 CLP 2,564

$3.59 MX$62.0

-23.12%

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

$1.34 CLP 1,247

$1.51 MX$26.10

-11.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CLP 953

$0.92 MX$15.83

10.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 CLP 3,051

$2.96 MX$51.2

10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 CLP 3,867

$4.41 MX$76.3

-5.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,096

$1.40 MX$24.16

-15.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 CLP 1,457

$1.88 MX$32.60

-16.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,725

$1.56 MX$26.97

18.59%

Eggs

$3.59 CLP 3,342

$2.61 MX$45.14

37.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.59 CLP 9,854

$8.32 MX$144

27.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 CLP 6,297

$8.35 MX$145

-18.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.82 CLP 10.1K

$10.86 MX$188

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,701

$2.71 MX$46.93

-32.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,469

$1.51 MX$26.04

4.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.87 MX$32.41

-17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,407

$2.19 MX$37.89

-31.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,144

$1.86 MX$32.14

-33.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CLP 1,309

$2.23 MX$38.59

-36.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CLP 1,186

$1.07 MX$18.48

18.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,105

$1.09 MX$18.79

9.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 CLP 4,941

$4.19 MX$72.4

26.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.23 CLP 5,799

$10.43 MX$180

-40.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CLP 1,484

$1.66 MX$28.68

-4.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 2,082

$2.61 MX$45.19

-14.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 580

$0.54 MX$9.37

14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 472

$3.08 MX$53.3

-83.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,273

$1.31 MX$22.69

4.58%

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

$19.9K CLP 18.6M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-33.08%

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

$21.1K CLP 19.6M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-9.48%

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

$131 CLP 122.1K

$81.3 MX$1,406

61.43%

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

$13.58 CLP 12.6K

$22.56 MX$390

-39.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.10 CLP 20.6K

$30.05 MX$520

-26.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.11 CLP 36.4K

$52.9 MX$915

-26.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.35 CLP 19.9K

$18.39 MX$318

16.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.70 CLP 5,299

$4.92 MX$85.1

15.85%

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

$436 CLP 405.3K

$201 MX$3,474

116.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 CLP 47.6K

$35.92 MX$622

42.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.52 CLP 28.4K

$40.13 MX$694

-23.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.8 CLP 58.4K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-21.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 CLP 76.2K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-5.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 CLP 442.6K

$978 MX$16.9K

-51.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 CLP 341.4K

$470 MX$8,140

-22.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 CLP 814.0K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-47.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 CLP 550.4K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-50.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 CLP 585.1K

$677 MX$11.7K

-7.06%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Talcahuano versus $978 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 8% 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 $45.00 in Talcahuano versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Talcahuano vs $252 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 14%, 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 $1,653 per month in Talcahuano and $1,890 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 $1,102 in Talcahuano and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Talcahuano and $201 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 $1,102, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.