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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,193 per month in Temuco vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,736 per month in Temuco vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Temuco vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Temuco is about 5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Temuco and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Temuco 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 CLP 6,706

$11.72 MX$203

-38.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 CLP 30.4K

$41.89 MX$725

-22.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 CLP 6,910

$10.51 MX$182

-29.31%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CLP 3,617

$3.59 MX$62.0

8.36%

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

$2.33 CLP 2,166

$1.51 MX$26.10

54.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,141

$0.92 MX$15.83

33.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.83 CLP 3,566

$2.96 MX$51.2

29.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CLP 3,220

$4.41 MX$76.3

-21.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,101

$1.40 MX$24.16

-15.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 CLP 1,372

$1.88 MX$32.60

-21.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,271

$1.56 MX$26.97

-12.18%

Eggs

$3.45 CLP 3,214

$2.61 MX$45.14

32.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 CLP 8,966

$8.32 MX$144

15.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 CLP 5,927

$8.35 MX$145

-23.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.11 CLP 11.3K

$10.86 MX$188

11.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 CLP 1,795

$2.71 MX$46.93

-28.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 CLP 1,919

$1.51 MX$26.04

36.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 CLP 2,038

$1.87 MX$32.41

17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 CLP 2,068

$2.19 MX$37.89

1.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CLP 2,314

$1.86 MX$32.14

33.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CLP 2,496

$2.23 MX$38.59

20.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 CLP 1,797

$1.07 MX$18.48

80.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,104

$1.09 MX$18.79

9.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 CLP 4,498

$4.19 MX$72.4

15.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.02 CLP 4,674

$10.43 MX$180

-51.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CLP 1,515

$1.66 MX$28.68

-1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 2,088

$2.61 MX$45.19

-14.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 CLP 812

$0.54 MX$9.37

61.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.22 CLP 32.8K

$26.16 MX$453

34.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 CLP 820

$3.08 MX$53.3

-71.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CLP 1,425

$2.40 MX$41.61

-36.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.92 CLP 9,232

$3.13 MX$54.1

216.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 CLP 1,345

$1.31 MX$22.69

10.69%

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

$13.0K CLP 12.1M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-56.52%

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

$18.5K CLP 17.2M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-20.68%

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

$211 CLP 196.6K

$81.3 MX$1,406

159.97%

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

$11.86 CLP 11.0K

$22.56 MX$390

-47.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.93 CLP 13.9K

$30.05 MX$520

-50.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.0 CLP 46.5K

$52.9 MX$915

-5.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.95 CLP 45.5K

$18.39 MX$318

166.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 CLP 4,500

$4.92 MX$85.1

-1.63%

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

$232 CLP 215.9K

$201 MX$3,474

15.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,914 CLP 2.7M

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-43.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.83 CLP 43.6K

$35.92 MX$622

30.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.67 CLP 17.4K

$40.13 MX$694

-53.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 CLP 64.3K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 CLP 82.3K

$86.5 MX$1,496

2.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 CLP 387.6K

$978 MX$16.9K

-57.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 CLP 317.9K

$470 MX$8,140

-27.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 CLP 679.3K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-55.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 CLP 500.8K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-55.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,083 CLP 1.9M

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-47.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 CLP 1.6M

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-74.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$540 CLP 502.1K

$677 MX$11.7K

-20.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

11.42

-57.97%

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

Last update for Temuco: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $417 in Temuco versus $978 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 25% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $33.00 in Temuco versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $252 – making Temuco 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

Temuco 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 Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,789 per month in Temuco and $1,890 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 Temuco, 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 $1,193 in Temuco and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Temuco. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Temuco, where all-in costs run around $1,193, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Temuco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Temuco – 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 Temuco. 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.