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 $1,224 per month in Tarnow vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,704 per month in Tarnow vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,185 per month in Tarnow vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tarnow is about 5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tarnow and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tarnow 11% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 zł 39.34

$11.71 MX$198

-9.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.48 zł 98.3

$46.59 MX$787

-43.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 zł 24.92

$11.65 MX$197

-42.40%

Cappuccino

$2.64 zł 9.82

$4.09 MX$69.2

-35.45%

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

$2.25 zł 8.36

$1.37 MX$23.23

64.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 zł 4.86

$0.83 MX$14.09

57.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 zł 15.40

$3.35 MX$56.7

23.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 zł 14.79

$6.91 MX$117

-42.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 zł 3.64

$1.73 MX$29.19

-43.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 zł 4.54

$2.26 MX$38.20

-46.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 zł 5.02

$1.77 MX$29.90

-23.73%

Eggs

$2.65 zł 9.85

$2.73 MX$46.18

-2.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 zł 30.17

$9.18 MX$155

-11.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 zł 23.09

$8.92 MX$151

-30.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 zł 37.83

$12.60 MX$213

-19.13%

Apples (1kg)

$0.79 zł 2.95

$3.02 MX$51.1

-73.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 zł 5.81

$1.57 MX$26.54

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 zł 5.06

$2.13 MX$35.92

-36.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 zł 7.41

$2.26 MX$38.27

-11.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 zł 2.94

$2.00 MX$33.87

-60.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 zł 4.07

$2.06 MX$34.89

-46.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 zł 3.87

$1.18 MX$19.94

-11.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 zł 2.95

$1.20 MX$20.35

-34.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 zł 16.48

$4.63 MX$78.3

-4.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.54 zł 24.28

$10.69 MX$181

-38.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 zł 3.53

$1.62 MX$27.37

-41.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 zł 5.42

$2.88 MX$48.69

-49.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 zł 3.69

$0.57 MX$9.69

73.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.60 zł 117

$29.83 MX$504

5.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 zł 5.02

$5.45 MX$92.1

-75.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 zł 2.85

$3.70 MX$62.6

-79.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.79 zł 40.06

$5.98 MX$101

80.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 zł 5.87

$1.55 MX$26.25

1.94%

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

$32.0K zł 119.0K

$22.3K MX$377.3K

43.48%

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

$25.7K zł 95.4K

$25.9K MX$438.5K

-0.98%

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

$252 zł 937

$89.1 MX$1,506

183.15%

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

$9.85 zł 36.58

$25.04 MX$423

-60.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.19 zł 63.8

$31.50 MX$532

-45.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.33 zł 97.8

$67.8 MX$1,145

-61.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.99 zł 44.52

$28.92 MX$489

-58.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 zł 18.16

$5.05 MX$85.3

-3.17%

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

$297 zł 1,103

$225 MX$3,802

32.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,616 zł 9,716

$4,222 MX$71.4K

-38.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.2 zł 309

$47.44 MX$802

75.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.53 zł 98.6

$44.98 MX$760

-41.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 zł 296

$82.0 MX$1,386

-2.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 zł 431

$92.1 MX$1,556

25.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 zł 1,688

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-57.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 zł 1,348

$405 MX$6,850

-10.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 zł 2,378

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-66.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 zł 1,813

$1,301 MX$22.0K

-62.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 zł 10.3K

$3,995 MX$67.5K

-30.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,832 zł 6,806

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-72.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,071 zł 3,980

$749 MX$12.7K

43.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

11.45

-41.66%

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

Last update for Tarnow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $454 in Tarnow versus $1,069 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 43% 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 $26.00 in Tarnow versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $277 – 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 6%, 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 $1,836 per month in Tarnow and $1,940 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 $1,224 in Tarnow and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% 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 $1,224, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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.