Cost of Living Comparison Between Terre Rouge and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Terre Rouge and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $996 per month in Terre Rouge vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Terre Rouge vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,193 per month in Terre Rouge vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Terre Rouge is about 22% 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 Rouge 26% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.66 MUR 314
$11.87 MX$204
-43.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.97 MUR 2,070
$42.90 MX$736
2.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.55 MUR 308
$10.65 MX$183
-38.50%
Cappuccino
$2.59 MUR 122
$3.45 MX$59.2
-24.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 MUR 48.84
$1.50 MX$25.81
-30.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 MUR 27.90
$0.95 MX$16.28
-37.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 MUR 101
$3.03 MX$51.9
-29.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 MUR 130
$4.61 MX$79.1
-40.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MUR 68.7
$1.38 MX$23.61
5.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MUR 31.20
$1.85 MX$31.70
-64.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 MUR 60.5
$1.61 MX$27.65
-19.88%
Eggs
$2.31 MUR 109
$2.59 MX$44.51
-10.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 MUR 469
$8.26 MX$142
20.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.08 MUR 286
$8.37 MX$144
-27.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 MUR 494
$10.66 MX$183
-1.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 MUR 97.4
$2.63 MX$45.12
-21.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 MUR 89.3
$1.49 MX$25.53
27.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 MUR 70.0
$1.92 MX$32.94
-22.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 MUR 129
$2.09 MX$35.81
30.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MUR 46.24
$1.86 MX$31.88
-47.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 MUR 44.07
$2.26 MX$38.81
-58.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 MUR 39.88
$1.06 MX$18.23
-19.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MUR 26.83
$1.09 MX$18.67
-47.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98 MUR 282
$4.15 MX$71.2
44.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.38 MUR 442
$10.39 MX$178
-9.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 MUR 84.9
$1.72 MX$29.59
4.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 MUR 99.6
$2.61 MX$44.85
-18.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 MUR 48.75
$0.54 MX$9.30
92.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.94 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 MUR 208
$3.13 MX$53.7
41.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 MUR 128
$2.51 MX$43.09
7.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.63 MUR 736
$3.15 MX$54.1
396.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MUR 68.0
$1.27 MX$21.88
13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K MUR 1.7M
$30.4K MX$521.3K
17.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K MUR 1.4M
$23.6K MX$404.5K
24.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.3 MUR 2,371
$83.0 MX$1,425
-39.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.51 MUR 872
$22.71 MX$390
-18.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.06 MUR 1,510
$29.46 MX$506
8.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.89 MUR 1,784
$51.0 MX$875
-25.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33 MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.88 MUR 277
$4.93 MX$84.5
19.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 MUR 7,191
$197 MX$3,386
-22.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,948 MUR 185.9K
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-25.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 MUR 2,415
$36.90 MX$633
39.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.34 MUR 2,041
$39.89 MX$685
8.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.4 MUR 3,927
$80.0 MX$1,373
4.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 MUR 3,640
$89.5 MX$1,536
-13.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 MUR 24.2K
$956 MX$16.4K
-46.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$347 MUR 16.3K
$477 MX$8,189
-27.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 MUR 44.5K
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-42.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 MUR 33.6K
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-41.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terre Rouge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$667 MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
11.42
-45.27%

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

Last update for Terre Rouge: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $513 in Terre Rouge versus $956 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 $44.00 in Terre Rouge versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Terre Rouge vs $250 in Playa del Carmen – so Terre Rouge wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 28%, 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 $1,494 per month in Terre Rouge and $1,906 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $996 in Terre Rouge and $1,271 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 $153 per month in Terre Rouge and $197 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 Terre Rouge or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Terre Rouge, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.

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