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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $39.13 per month in Tanga vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $57.0 per month in Tanga vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $74.7 per month in Tanga vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tanga is about 97% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tanga and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tanga 97% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.47 TZS 3,855

$13.02 MX$221

-88.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.25 MX$784

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 TZS 8,965

$12.59 MX$213

-72.84%

Cappuccino

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$4.00 MX$67.9

-85.50%

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

$0.29 TZS 751

$1.42 MX$24.08

-79.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,044

$0.81 MX$13.73

-50.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 TZS 2,420

$3.05 MX$51.7

-69.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,018

$6.82 MX$116

-83.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.04

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$37.62

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$29.13

Eggs

$2.71 MX$45.99

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MX$159

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 MX$150

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 MX$217

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MX$53.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MX$26.24

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.51

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MX$39.89

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 MX$34.23

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MX$20.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MX$78.8

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$26.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MX$49.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 MX$90.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.27

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

$22.4K MX$379.1K

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

$25.6K MX$433.3K

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

$89.3 MX$1,513

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

$23.30 MX$395

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.72 MX$538

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

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

$222 MX$3,765

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 MX$783

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MX$753

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MX$1,618

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MX$1,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MX$6,663

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

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

Last update for Tanga: August 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 3299%, 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 $58.7 per month in Tanga and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tanga, where all-in costs run around $39.13, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Tanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tanga – 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 Tanga. 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.