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 $1,240 per month in Tarnow vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,691 per month in Tarnow vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,142 per month in Tarnow vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tarnow is about 1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tarnow and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tarnow 7% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.65 zł 36.60

$11.99 MX$209

-19.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.76 zł 102

$41.78 MX$728

-35.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 zł 25.74

$10.75 MX$187

-36.93%

Cappuccino

$2.76 zł 10.47

$3.50 MX$60.9

-21.14%

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

$2.15 zł 8.15

$1.45 MX$25.22

48.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 zł 5.12

$0.88 MX$15.41

53.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 zł 11.25

$2.95 MX$51.3

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 zł 14.28

$4.51 MX$78.6

-16.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 zł 3.80

$1.43 MX$24.94

-30.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 zł 4.50

$1.84 MX$31.99

-35.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 zł 5.04

$1.57 MX$27.31

-15.29%

Eggs

$2.62 zł 9.94

$2.51 MX$43.74

4.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 zł 29.33

$8.28 MX$144

-6.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.56 zł 24.90

$8.43 MX$147

-22.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 zł 36.41

$10.68 MX$186

-10.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 zł 3.22

$2.61 MX$45.43

-67.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 zł 5.93

$1.44 MX$25.04

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 zł 5.23

$1.96 MX$34.16

-29.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 zł 8.10

$2.09 MX$36.47

2.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 zł 2.94

$1.85 MX$32.24

-57.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 zł 4.09

$2.17 MX$37.74

-50.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 zł 4.18

$1.03 MX$17.96

6.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 zł 2.29

$1.07 MX$18.70

-43.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 zł 16.99

$4.10 MX$71.4

9.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 zł 27.59

$10.17 MX$177

-28.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 zł 3.66

$1.68 MX$29.17

-42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 zł 5.59

$2.53 MX$43.98

-41.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 zł 4.06

$0.51 MX$8.87

109.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.96 zł 125

$26.04 MX$453

26.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 zł 5.11

$3.23 MX$56.3

-58.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 zł 1.85

$2.41 MX$41.88

-79.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.72 zł 52.1

$3.23 MX$56.2

324.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 zł 6.41

$1.32 MX$23.00

28.03%

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

$33.3K zł 126.3K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

12.05%

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

$24.5K zł 92.8K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

3.40%

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

$259 zł 983

$82.0 MX$1,428

215.77%

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

$7.50 zł 28.46

$22.95 MX$400

-67.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.95 zł 60.5

$30.11 MX$524

-47.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.24 zł 103

$52.0 MX$905

-47.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.11 zł 45.94

$18.53 MX$323

-34.65%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 zł 18.59

$4.98 MX$86.6

-1.61%

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

$327 zł 1,240

$197 MX$3,438

65.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,707 zł 17.9K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

-11.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.7 zł 321

$35.60 MX$620

137.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.01 zł 102

$40.33 MX$702

-33.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.6 zł 310

$78.8 MX$1,371

3.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 zł 453

$88.9 MX$1,549

34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 zł 1,732

$947 MX$16.5K

-51.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 zł 1,394

$474 MX$8,254

-22.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$659 zł 2,499

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-59.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 zł 1,845

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-59.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,727 zł 10.3K

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-32.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,810 zł 6,867

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-72.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,027 zł 3,896

$654 MX$11.4K

57.02%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Tarnow 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.

Salaries run about 57% 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 $27.00 in Tarnow versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $249 – 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 1%, 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 $1,859 per month in Tarnow 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 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 $1,240 in Tarnow 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 27% 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 $1,240, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.