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 $747 per month in Tarija vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $985 per month in Tarija vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,224 per month in Tarija vs $3,017 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 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 BOB 38.25

$11.99 MX$210

-70.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.28 BOB 152

$41.78 MX$733

-65.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 BOB 67.2

$10.75 MX$189

-41.30%

Cappuccino

$2.48 BOB 26.39

$3.50 MX$61.3

-29.14%

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

$1.48 BOB 15.78

$1.45 MX$25.41

2.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 BOB 10.64

$0.88 MX$15.52

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 BOB 16.57

$2.95 MX$51.7

-47.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 BOB 23.90

$4.51 MX$79.1

-50.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 BOB 8.22

$1.43 MX$25.12

-46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 BOB 15.22

$1.84 MX$32.23

-22.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 BOB 12.52

$1.57 MX$27.51

-24.84%

Eggs

$2.58 BOB 27.50

$2.51 MX$44.06

2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.83 BOB 51.4

$8.28 MX$145

-41.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 BOB 55.4

$8.43 MX$148

-38.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 BOB 67.5

$10.68 MX$187

-40.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 BOB 15.90

$2.61 MX$45.76

-42.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 BOB 13.59

$1.44 MX$25.22

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 BOB 11.86

$1.96 MX$34.41

-43.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 BOB 23.71

$2.09 MX$36.74

6.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 BOB 15.88

$1.85 MX$32.47

-19.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BOB 15.27

$2.17 MX$38.02

-34.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 BOB 3.76

$1.03 MX$18.09

-66.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 BOB 14.20

$1.07 MX$18.84

24.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 BOB 30.23

$4.10 MX$72.0

-30.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.70 BOB 39.44

$10.17 MX$178

-63.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 BOB 20.21

$1.68 MX$29.38

13.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 BOB 20.10

$2.53 MX$44.31

-25.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 BOB 2.95

$0.51 MX$8.93

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 BOB 333

$26.04 MX$457

19.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 BOB 11.37

$3.23 MX$56.7

-66.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 BOB 12.66

$2.41 MX$42.19

-50.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 BOB 51.6

$3.23 MX$56.6

50.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 BOB 5.44

$1.32 MX$23.17

-61.36%

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

$19.6K BOB 209.1K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-33.90%

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

$21.6K BOB 229.6K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-8.91%

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

$51.2 BOB 545

$82.0 MX$1,439

-37.59%

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

$27.84 BOB 297

$22.95 MX$403

21.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.31 BOB 451

$30.11 MX$528

40.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 BOB 377

$52.0 MX$912

-31.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.43 BOB 47.21

$18.53 MX$325

-76.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.38 BOB 78.6

$4.98 MX$87.3

48.19%

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

$60.8 BOB 648

$197 MX$3,463

-69.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,327 BOB 14.1K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-75.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.34 BOB 270

$35.60 MX$624

-28.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.21 BOB 311

$40.33 MX$707

-27.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.55 BOB 421

$78.8 MX$1,381

-49.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.81 BOB 232

$88.9 MX$1,560

-75.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 BOB 3,409

$947 MX$16.6K

-66.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 BOB 2,406

$474 MX$8,314

-52.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BOB 5,477

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-68.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 BOB 1,231

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-90.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Tarija versus $947 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: $173 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 68%, 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 $1,121 per month in Tarija and $1,884 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 $747 in Tarija and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 20% 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 $747, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.