🙂A single person spends $1,041 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,713 per month in Terre Rouge vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,386 per month in Terre Rouge vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Terre Rouge is about 20% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Terre Rouge and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Terre Rouge25% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73MUR 268
$11.96MX$203
-52.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.99MUR 1,778
$47.38MX$804
-19.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.30MUR 342
$11.75MX$199
-37.87%
Cappuccino
$2.73MUR 128
$4.12MX$70.0
-33.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MUR 55.2
$1.40MX$23.74
-15.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MUR 29.38
$0.91MX$15.48
-30.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.58MUR 121
$3.21MX$54.4
-19.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91MUR 183
$7.07MX$120
-44.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MUR 66.7
$1.68MX$28.44
-15.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77MUR 36.19
$2.15MX$36.48
-64.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14MUR 53.5
$1.77MX$30.10
-35.59%
Eggs
$2.31MUR 108
$2.82MX$47.76
-18.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.36MUR 251
$9.20MX$156
-41.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47MUR 303
$9.23MX$157
-29.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25MUR 527
$12.64MX$214
-11.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17MUR 101
$2.95MX$50.1
-26.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42MUR 113
$1.58MX$26.79
53.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 67.4
$2.22MX$37.70
-35.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91MUR 136
$2.36MX$40.09
23.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93MUR 43.72
$1.99MX$33.81
-53.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 46.98
$1.98MX$33.58
-49.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74MUR 34.70
$1.24MX$21.04
-40.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89MUR 41.80
$1.21MX$20.55
-26.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.32MUR 296
$4.60MX$78.1
37.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.59MUR 402
$10.52MX$178
-18.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70MUR 79.5
$1.69MX$28.70
0.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30MUR 107
$2.77MX$47.06
-16.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.22MUR 197
$5.24MX$88.8
-19.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20MUR 150
$3.65MX$61.9
-12.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.08MUR 987
$5.78MX$98.1
264.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MUR 61.9
$1.54MX$26.09
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KMUR 1.5M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
43.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMUR 1.5M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
20.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.98MUR 2,152
$90.7MX$1,538
-49.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82MUR 506
$25.19MX$427
-57.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.17MUR 1,365
$31.75MX$539
-8.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.55MUR 1,617
$68.8MX$1,167
-49.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.29MUR 294
$4.86MX$82.5
29.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MUR 5,909
$226MX$3,828
-44.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,680MUR 359.4K
$4,194MX$71.1K
83.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7MUR 3,213
$47.38MX$804
44.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.2MUR 3,285
$43.45MX$737
61.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113MUR 5,266
$80.2MX$1,361
40.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.2MUR 3,706
$91.4MX$1,550
-13.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588MUR 27.5K
$1,086MX$18.4K
-45.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402MUR 18.8K
$409MX$6,933
-1.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MUR 53.1K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-42.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$848MUR 39.7K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-33.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.45
-44.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Terre Rouge: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $588 in Terre Rouge versus $1,086 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Terre Rouge versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $278 – making Terre Rouge 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
Terre Rouge vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Terre Rouge?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,561 per month in Terre Rouge and $1,958 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 Terre Rouge, 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 Terre Rouge and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,041 in Terre Rouge and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $126 per month in Terre Rouge and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Terre Rouge or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Terre Rouge, where all-in costs run around $1,041, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Terre Rouge it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Terre Rouge or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Terre Rouge – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Terre Rouge 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 Terre Rouge. 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.
Terre Rouge vs other spots: cost of living compared