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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $872 per month in Tesanj vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,322 per month in Tesanj vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,772 per month in Tesanj vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tesanj is about 33% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tesanj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tesanj 35% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 BAM 5.89

$11.73 MX$203

-70.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.66 BAM 27.99

$41.62 MX$720

-59.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.00 BAM 5.04

$10.64 MX$184

-71.80%

Cappuccino

$0.85 BAM 1.43

$3.52 MX$60.9

-75.85%

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

$1.48 BAM 2.49

$1.51 MX$26.12

-1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.50

$0.97 MX$16.84

-7.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 BAM 3.51

$2.95 MX$51.0

-29.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 BAM 3.05

$4.45 MX$77.0

-59.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 BAM 1.43

$1.38 MX$23.93

-38.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 BAM 1.51

$1.89 MX$32.72

-52.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 BAM 4.03

$1.64 MX$28.32

46.34%

Eggs

$2.78 BAM 4.67

$2.51 MX$43.34

10.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.76 BAM 16.40

$8.34 MX$144

17.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.30 BAM 12.27

$8.34 MX$144

-12.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.16 BAM 22.10

$10.73 MX$186

22.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 BAM 2.09

$2.60 MX$45.04

-51.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 BAM 2.85

$1.46 MX$25.20

15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 BAM 3.22

$1.90 MX$32.87

1.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 BAM 2.78

$2.08 MX$35.91

-20.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 BAM 1.34

$1.78 MX$30.71

-55.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 BAM 1.18

$2.19 MX$37.80

-68.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 BAM 1.56

$1.04 MX$17.99

-10.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 BAM 1.62

$1.08 MX$18.62

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 BAM 5.86

$4.08 MX$70.6

-14.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 BAM 14.26

$10.32 MX$178

-17.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 BAM 2.11

$1.71 MX$29.61

-26.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 BAM 3.46

$2.58 MX$44.54

-20.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$0.51 MX$8.81

262.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.58 BAM 59.8

$26.46 MX$458

34.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BAM 1.95

$3.26 MX$56.4

-64.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 BAM 0.88

$2.49 MX$43.09

-79.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.67 BAM 17.93

$3.25 MX$56.2

228.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.31 MX$22.61

9.92%

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

$23.4K BAM 39.3K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-22.84%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

14.03%

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

$124 BAM 209

$82.9 MX$1,433

49.90%

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

$19.29 BAM 32.41

$22.22 MX$384

-13.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.67 BAM 48.17

$29.34 MX$507

-2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 BAM 49.58

$51.6 MX$893

-42.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.80 BAM 18.15

$18.32 MX$317

-41.05%

Cinema Ticket

$2.94 BAM 4.94

$5.07 MX$87.6

-42.01%

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

$150 BAM 251

$201 MX$3,473

-25.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,312 BAM 5,565

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-36.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.8 BAM 121

$36.92 MX$639

94.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.38 BAM 59.5

$39.79 MX$688

-11.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 BAM 168

$78.5 MX$1,357

27.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 BAM 201

$87.1 MX$1,506

37.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 440

$973 MX$16.8K

-73.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 BAM 283

$468 MX$8,090

-64.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 621

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-77.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-74.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,603 BAM 4,373

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-34.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,839 BAM 3,090

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-71.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$715 BAM 1,201

$664 MX$11.5K

7.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

11.42

-63.75%

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

Last update for Tesanj: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Tesanj versus $973 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 8% higher in Tesanj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Tesanj versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $249 – making Tesanj 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

Tesanj vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 49%, 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 $1,308 per month in Tesanj and $1,945 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 Tesanj, 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 $872 in Tesanj and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% less in Tesanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tesanj, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Tesanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tesanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tesanj. 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.