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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $760 per month in Tarija vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $986 per month in Tarija vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,213 per month in Tarija vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tarija is about 41% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tarija and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tarija 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 BOB 25.05

$11.73 MX$203

-68.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 BOB 98.3

$41.62 MX$720

-65.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 BOB 42.63

$10.64 MX$184

-41.64%

Cappuccino

$2.39 BOB 16.36

$3.52 MX$60.9

-32.10%

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

$1.47 BOB 10.09

$1.51 MX$26.12

-2.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 BOB 7.16

$0.97 MX$16.84

7.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 BOB 10.80

$2.95 MX$51.0

-46.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 BOB 15.15

$4.45 MX$77.0

-50.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 BOB 5.23

$1.38 MX$23.93

-44.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 BOB 9.41

$1.89 MX$32.72

-27.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 BOB 8.12

$1.64 MX$28.32

-28.05%

Eggs

$2.53 BOB 17.36

$2.51 MX$43.34

0.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.88 BOB 33.47

$8.34 MX$144

-41.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 BOB 35.30

$8.34 MX$144

-38.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.18 BOB 42.36

$10.73 MX$186

-42.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 BOB 9.80

$2.60 MX$45.04

-45.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 BOB 9.21

$1.46 MX$25.20

-8.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 BOB 7.26

$1.90 MX$32.87

-44.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 BOB 15.04

$2.08 MX$35.91

5.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 BOB 10.12

$1.78 MX$30.71

-17.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 BOB 10.22

$2.19 MX$37.80

-31.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 BOB 2.25

$1.04 MX$17.99

-68.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 BOB 9.16

$1.08 MX$18.62

23.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 BOB 19.49

$4.08 MX$70.6

-30.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.73 BOB 25.56

$10.32 MX$178

-63.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 BOB 13.03

$1.71 MX$29.61

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 BOB 13.39

$2.58 MX$44.54

-24.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BOB 2.07

$0.51 MX$8.81

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.10 BOB 213

$26.46 MX$458

17.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 BOB 7.35

$3.26 MX$56.4

-67.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 BOB 8.16

$2.49 MX$43.09

-52.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.67 BOB 32.02

$3.25 MX$56.2

43.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 BOB 3.75

$1.31 MX$22.61

-58.02%

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

$19.6K BOB 134.5K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-35.23%

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

$21.6K BOB 148.3K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

-7.75%

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

$49.85 BOB 342

$82.9 MX$1,433

-39.85%

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

$27.50 BOB 189

$22.22 MX$384

23.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.07 BOB 289

$29.34 MX$507

43.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.97 BOB 240

$51.6 MX$893

-32.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.44 BOB 30.44

$18.32 MX$317

-75.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.33 BOB 50.3

$5.07 MX$87.6

44.58%

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

$62.2 BOB 427

$201 MX$3,473

-69.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,306 BOB 8,956

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-74.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.15 BOB 173

$36.92 MX$639

-31.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 BOB 203

$39.79 MX$688

-25.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.55 BOB 278

$78.5 MX$1,357

-48.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.89 BOB 150

$87.1 MX$1,506

-74.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 BOB 2,237

$973 MX$16.8K

-66.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 BOB 1,548

$468 MX$8,090

-51.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 BOB 3,519

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-68.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 BOB 790

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-90.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

11.42

-51.84%

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

Last update for Tarija: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Tarija versus $973 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Tarija versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $249 – making Tarija the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 71%, 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 $1,140 per month in Tarija and $1,945 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 Tarija, 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 $760 in Tarija and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 18% less in Tarija. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tarija, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Tarija it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tarija. 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.