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 $850 per month in Tesanj vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Tesanj vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,769 per month in Tesanj vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tesanj is about 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tesanj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tesanj 36% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 BAM 5.91

$11.99 MX$210

-71.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.59 BAM 28.37

$41.78 MX$733

-60.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.89 BAM 4.95

$10.75 MX$189

-73.12%

Cappuccino

$0.92 BAM 1.57

$3.50 MX$61.3

-73.71%

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

$1.43 BAM 2.45

$1.45 MX$25.41

-1.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.55

$0.88 MX$15.52

3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 BAM 3.43

$2.95 MX$51.7

-31.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 BAM 2.99

$4.51 MX$79.1

-61.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 BAM 1.39

$1.43 MX$25.12

-43.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 BAM 1.57

$1.84 MX$32.23

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.93

$1.57 MX$27.51

46.50%

Eggs

$2.89 BAM 4.94

$2.51 MX$44.06

15.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 BAM 17.39

$8.28 MX$145

22.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BAM 12.83

$8.43 MX$148

-11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 BAM 22.46

$10.68 MX$187

22.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 BAM 2.14

$2.61 MX$45.76

-52.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 BAM 2.77

$1.44 MX$25.22

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BAM 3.30

$1.96 MX$34.41

-1.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 BAM 2.86

$2.09 MX$36.74

-19.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 BAM 1.43

$1.85 MX$32.47

-54.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 BAM 1.28

$2.17 MX$38.02

-65.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 BAM 1.57

$1.03 MX$18.09

-10.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 BAM 1.74

$1.07 MX$18.84

-4.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 BAM 6.17

$4.10 MX$72.0

-11.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.06 BAM 13.78

$10.17 MX$178

-20.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 BAM 2.08

$1.68 MX$29.38

-27.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 BAM 3.36

$2.53 MX$44.31

-22.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 BAM 3.12

$0.51 MX$8.93

256.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.82 BAM 61.3

$26.04 MX$457

37.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$3.23 MX$56.7

-64.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 BAM 0.96

$2.41 MX$42.19

-76.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 BAM 17.91

$3.23 MX$56.6

224.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BAM 2.54

$1.32 MX$23.17

12.12%

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

$23.1K BAM 39.5K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-22.14%

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

$26.1K BAM 44.6K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

10.26%

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

$124 BAM 212

$82.0 MX$1,439

50.95%

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

$19.14 BAM 32.74

$22.95 MX$403

-16.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 BAM 49.24

$30.11 MX$528

-4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 BAM 51.3

$52.0 MX$912

-42.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.05 BAM 18.90

$18.53 MX$325

-40.37%

Cinema Ticket

$2.97 BAM 5.08

$4.98 MX$87.3

-40.36%

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

$151 BAM 257

$197 MX$3,463

-23.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,244 BAM 5,548

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-39.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 BAM 120

$35.60 MX$624

97.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.36 BAM 58.8

$40.33 MX$707

-14.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 BAM 167

$78.8 MX$1,381

23.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 BAM 201

$88.9 MX$1,560

31.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 BAM 437

$947 MX$16.6K

-73.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 BAM 291

$474 MX$8,314

-64.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 BAM 620

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-77.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 BAM 539

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-73.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 BAM 4,222

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-39.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,816 BAM 3,106

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-71.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$687 BAM 1,175

$654 MX$11.5K

5.10%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Tesanj versus $947 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 5% 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: $224 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 48%, 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 $1,276 per month in Tesanj and $1,884 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 $850 in Tesanj and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 38% 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 $850, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.