😐A single person spends $1,734 per month in Terrassa vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,556 per month in Terrassa vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,379 per month in Terrassa vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Terrassa costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Terrassa sits 29% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.01€14.56
$11.94MX$209
42.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6€59.6
$42.75MX$748
62.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.62€10.80
$10.59MX$185
19.17%
Cappuccino
$2.53€2.17
$3.62MX$63.4
-30.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.85
$1.47MX$25.69
46.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.68
$0.94MX$16.51
109.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.03
$3.09MX$54.1
14.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49€3.84
$4.46MX$78.0
0.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.05
$1.43MX$24.94
-13.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.37
$1.88MX$32.97
-14.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$1.63MX$28.50
17.18%
Eggs
$3.48€2.98
$2.64MX$46.26
31.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.70€9.16
$8.21MX$144
30.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€7.81
$8.29MX$145
10.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.26€16.48
$11.10MX$194
73.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€1.99
$2.65MX$46.40
-12.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.83
$1.50MX$26.26
42.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96€1.68
$1.99MX$34.79
-1.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86€2.44
$2.08MX$36.33
37.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48€1.26
$1.79MX$31.29
-17.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.18MX$38.09
-22.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98€0.84
$1.08MX$18.84
-9.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.04MX$18.15
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91€5.06
$3.97MX$69.5
48.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.17€6.14
$10.20MX$179
-29.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.21
$1.73MX$30.22
-17.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19€1.87
$2.50MX$43.71
-12.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65€1.42
$0.52MX$9.07
217.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.03€29.99
$26.97MX$472
29.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.07€3.49
$3.14MX$55.0
29.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10€1.79
$2.40MX$42.04
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.86€24.71
$3.09MX$54.0
833.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.57
$1.27MX$22.28
44.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€32.6K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
23.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K€28.1K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
40.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€158
$82.0MX$1,435
125.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.33€19.97
$22.45MX$393
3.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.31€31.08
$29.66MX$519
22.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.85€34.97
$51.9MX$908
-21.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.11€12.94
$18.67MX$327
-19.07%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.25
$4.97MX$87.0
117.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$638€546
$198MX$3,462
222.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,918€8,490
$5,273MX$92.3K
88.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0€75.3
$36.34MX$636
142.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.35€28.55
$40.05MX$701
-16.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1€78.0
$79.9MX$1,398
14.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€100
$88.9MX$1,555
31.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$869€743
$963MX$16.9K
-9.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$700€599
$465MX$8,133
50.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,328€1,137
$1,596MX$27.9K
-16.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,002€858
$1,209MX$21.2K
-17.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,927€2,506
$3,942MX$69.0K
-25.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,190€1,875
$6,448MX$112.8K
-66.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terrassa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,369€2,028
$720MX$12.6K
228.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.42
-69.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Terrassa: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $869 in Terrassa 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.
💰Salaries run about 229% higher in Terrassa, 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 $70.0 in Terrassa versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $251 – 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
Terrassa vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Terrassa?
Yes – Terrassa is pricier by about 35%, 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 $2,600 per month in Terrassa and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 Terrassa vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,734 in Terrassa and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 30% 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 Terrassa or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Terrassa at $1,734. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terrassa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Terrassa or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Terrassa 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 – 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, Terrassa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.