Cost of Living Comparison Between Tempe, AZ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Tempe, AZ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,207 per month in Tempe, AZ vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,031 per month in Tempe, AZ vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,856 per month in Tempe, AZ vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tempe, AZ costs about 148% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tempe, AZ sits 133% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$11.71 MX$198

69.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.8 $79.8

$46.59 MX$788

71.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.95 $12.95

$11.65 MX$197

11.16%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$4.09 MX$69.2

28.61%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$1.37 MX$23.23

118.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$0.83 MX$14.09

190.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$3.35 MX$56.7

77.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 $7.35

$6.91 MX$117

6.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.73 MX$29.20

-42.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.26 MX$38.21

90.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$1.77 MX$29.91

251.41%

Eggs

$4.80 $4.80

$2.73 MX$46.19

75.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.40 $13.40

$9.18 MX$155

45.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$8.92 MX$151

54.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$12.60 MX$213

37.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$3.02 MX$51.1

88.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.57 MX$26.55

14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.13 MX$35.93

95.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.26 MX$38.28

123.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.00 MX$33.88

28.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.06 MX$34.90

44.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.18 MX$19.94

88.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.20 MX$20.35

96.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.50 $10.50

$4.63 MX$78.4

126.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.66 $13.66

$10.69 MX$181

27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.62 MX$27.38

54.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.88 MX$48.70

8.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.57 MX$9.69

249.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 $64.1

$29.83 MX$504

114.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 $2.69

$5.45 MX$92.1

-50.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$3.70 MX$62.6

-63.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.99 $35.99

$5.98 MX$101

501.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.55 MX$26.26

-31.61%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$22.3K MX$377.4K

59.48%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.9K MX$438.7K

-0.09%

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

$231 $231

$89.1 MX$1,507

159.30%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$25.04 MX$423

138.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$31.50 MX$532

138.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.42 $29.42

$67.8 MX$1,146

-56.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.74 $14.74

$28.92 MX$489

-49.03%

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 $13.70

$5.05 MX$85.4

171.29%

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

$1,081 $1,081

$225 MX$3,803

380.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$4,222 MX$71.4K

276.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 $62.0

$47.44 MX$802

30.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.04 $45.04

$44.98 MX$760

0.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 $97.9

$82.0 MX$1,386

19.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$92.1 MX$1,557

22.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 $1,853

$1,069 MX$18.1K

73.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 $1,746

$405 MX$6,852

330.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 $2,547

$1,935 MX$32.7K

31.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$1,301 MX$22.0K

31.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,007 $4,007

$749 MX$12.7K

435.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

11.45

-45.76%

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

Last update for Tempe, AZ: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,853 in Tempe, AZ 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 435% higher in Tempe, AZ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Tempe, AZ versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $277 – making Playa del Carmen 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

Tempe, AZ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tempe, AZ is pricier by about 148%, 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 $4,810 per month in Tempe, AZ 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $3,207 in Tempe, AZ 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 115% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Tempe, AZ at $3,207. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tempe, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tempe, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.