๐A single person spends $2,333 per month in Tenterden vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,448 per month in Tenterden vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,564 per month in Tenterden vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Tenterden costs about 85% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Tenterden sits 73% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77ยฃ15.39
$11.61MX$201
78.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1ยฃ59.3
$42.75MX$742
87.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13ยฃ7.51
$10.60MX$184
-4.43%
Cappuccino
$4.73ยฃ3.50
$3.59MX$62.3
31.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30ยฃ1.70
$1.45MX$25.21
58.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62ยฃ1.20
$0.90MX$15.58
80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.00ยฃ4.45
$3.03MX$52.6
98.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26ยฃ4.64
$4.56MX$79.2
37.28%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57ยฃ1.16
$1.45MX$25.20
8.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66ยฃ1.23
$1.83MX$31.72
-9.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27ยฃ1.69
$1.61MX$27.92
40.99%
Eggs
$3.88ยฃ2.87
$2.54MX$44.05
52.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.95ยฃ7.37
$8.54MX$148
16.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.05ยฃ6.71
$8.47MX$147
6.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.21ยฃ10.53
$10.86MX$189
30.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15ยฃ2.33
$2.73MX$47.37
15.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65ยฃ1.22
$1.49MX$25.91
10.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82ยฃ2.09
$1.94MX$33.73
45.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.47ยฃ2.57
$2.16MX$37.57
60.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70ยฃ1.26
$1.85MX$32.05
-8.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48ยฃ1.10
$2.19MX$38.00
-32.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07ยฃ0.79
$1.07MX$18.62
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45ยฃ1.08
$1.08MX$18.81
34.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.67ยฃ13.84
$4.06MX$70.5
359.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.38ยฃ7.69
$10.46MX$182
-0.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80ยฃ2.07
$1.65MX$28.71
69.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15ยฃ2.33
$2.55MX$44.23
23.53%
๐ Getting Around
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39ยฃ2.51
$0.56MX$9.65
505.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.1ยฃ66.0
$26.20MX$455
240.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.46ยฃ4.05
$3.14MX$54.5
73.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58ยฃ1.17
$2.37MX$41.17
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.40ยฃ17.34
$3.24MX$56.2
622.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94ยฃ1.44
$1.31MX$22.81
48.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8Kยฃ28.0K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
23.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2Kยฃ30.5K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
72.87%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290ยฃ215
$83.1MX$1,443
248.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.02ยฃ12.61
$22.15MX$385
-23.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.87ยฃ32.50
$29.37MX$510
49.37%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.94ยฃ33.30
$51.2MX$889
-12.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.48ยฃ9.99
$4.89MX$84.9
175.66%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,597ยฃ1,183
$199MX$3,449
703.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4Kยฃ13.6K
$5,207MX$90.4K
253.17%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0ยฃ63.0
$35.93MX$624
136.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.94ยฃ31.82
$39.39MX$684
9.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4ยฃ67.7
$80.3MX$1,394
13.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1ยฃ73.4
$87.6MX$1,520
13.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,198ยฃ888
$963MX$16.7K
24.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$990ยฃ734
$482MX$8,370
105.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,059ยฃ1,526
$1,645MX$28.6K
25.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,692ยฃ1,254
$1,192MX$20.7K
41.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Tenterden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$726MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
11.42
-50.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tenterden: April 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Tenterden 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $80 in Tenterden versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $253 โ 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
Tenterden vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tenterden?
Yes โ Tenterden is pricier by about 85%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,500 per month in Tenterden and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Tenterden vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,333 in Tenterden and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 240% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tenterden or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Tenterden at $2,333. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tenterden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tenterden or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tenterden or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tenterden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.