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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,210 per month in Tarnow vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,704 per month in Tarnow vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,197 per month in Tarnow vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tarnow is about 4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tarnow and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tarnow 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 zł 34.85

$11.61 MX$201

-16.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.18 zł 97.9

$42.75 MX$742

-36.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 zł 24.76

$10.60 MX$184

-35.09%

Cappuccino

$2.77 zł 9.98

$3.59 MX$62.3

-22.84%

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

$2.16 zł 7.78

$1.45 MX$25.21

48.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 zł 4.94

$0.90 MX$15.58

52.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.00 zł 10.82

$3.03 MX$52.6

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 zł 12.95

$4.56 MX$79.2

-21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 zł 3.71

$1.45 MX$25.20

-28.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 zł 4.32

$1.83 MX$31.72

-34.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 zł 5.00

$1.61 MX$27.92

-13.66%

Eggs

$2.54 zł 9.16

$2.54 MX$44.05

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 zł 28.70

$8.54 MX$148

-6.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 zł 22.99

$8.47 MX$147

-24.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 zł 35.69

$10.86 MX$189

-8.75%

Apples (1kg)

$0.83 zł 2.99

$2.73 MX$47.37

-69.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 zł 5.82

$1.49 MX$25.91

8.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 zł 4.78

$1.94 MX$33.73

-31.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 zł 7.69

$2.16 MX$37.57

-0.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 zł 3.01

$1.85 MX$32.05

-54.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 zł 4.02

$2.19 MX$38.00

-48.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 zł 3.85

$1.07 MX$18.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 zł 2.21

$1.08 MX$18.81

-42.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 zł 16.47

$4.06 MX$70.5

12.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.68 zł 27.64

$10.46 MX$182

-26.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 zł 3.49

$1.65 MX$28.71

-41.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 zł 5.26

$2.55 MX$44.23

-42.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 zł 3.97

$0.56 MX$9.65

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.06 zł 119

$26.20 MX$455

26.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 zł 4.78

$3.14 MX$54.5

-57.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 zł 1.73

$2.37 MX$41.17

-79.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.49 zł 48.57

$3.24 MX$56.2

316.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 zł 6.43

$1.31 MX$22.81

36.64%

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

$34.3K zł 123.5K

$30.5K MX$530.2K

12.36%

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

$24.8K zł 89.2K

$23.8K MX$413.6K

4.01%

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

$250 zł 900

$83.1 MX$1,443

200.70%

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

$7.65 zł 27.54

$22.15 MX$385

-65.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.45 zł 59.2

$29.37 MX$510

-43.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.20 zł 97.9

$51.2 MX$889

-46.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.14 zł 43.71

$18.69 MX$324

-35.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 zł 17.99

$4.89 MX$84.9

2.25%

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

$325 zł 1,170

$199 MX$3,449

63.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,867 zł 17.5K

$5,207 MX$90.4K

-6.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.4 zł 307

$35.93 MX$624

137.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.59 zł 95.7

$39.39 MX$684

-32.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 zł 288

$80.3 MX$1,394

-0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 zł 423

$87.6 MX$1,520

34.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 zł 1,683

$963 MX$16.7K

-51.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 zł 1,344

$482 MX$8,370

-22.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 zł 2,326

$1,645 MX$28.6K

-60.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 zł 1,758

$1,192 MX$20.7K

-59.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,957 zł 10.6K

$3,957 MX$68.7K

-25.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,873 zł 6,743

$6,513 MX$113.1K

-71.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,069 zł 3,849

$726 MX$12.6K

47.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

11.42

-45.01%

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

Last update for Tarnow: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Tarnow 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 47% higher in Tarnow, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Tarnow versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $253 – making Tarnow 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 4%, 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 $1,816 per month in Tarnow and $1,894 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 Tarnow, 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 $1,210 in Tarnow and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 26% less in Tarnow. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tarnow, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,262. In Tarnow it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tarnow – 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 Tarnow. 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.