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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $167 per month in Tete vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $270 per month in Tete vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $374 per month in Tete vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tete is about 87% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tete and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tete 87% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 MZN 298

$11.99 MX$210

-60.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

Cappuccino

$1.60 MZN 101

$3.50 MX$61.3

-54.29%

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

$0.80 MZN 50.3

$1.45 MX$25.41

-44.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 MZN 25.74

$0.88 MX$15.52

-53.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 MZN 50.0

$2.95 MX$51.7

-73.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MZN 77.9

$4.51 MX$79.1

-72.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 MZN 100

$1.43 MX$25.12

10.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MZN 45.73

$1.84 MX$32.23

-60.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 MZN 148

$1.57 MX$27.51

49.04%

Eggs

$3.20 MZN 202

$2.51 MX$44.06

27.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 MZN 196

$8.43 MX$148

-63.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 MZN 101

$2.61 MX$45.76

-38.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 MZN 97.9

$2.09 MX$36.74

-25.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 MZN 97.7

$1.85 MX$32.47

-16.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 MZN 99.5

$2.17 MX$38.02

-27.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 MZN 50.6

$1.07 MX$18.84

-25.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MZN 67.8

$1.68 MX$29.38

-36.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MZN 99.4

$2.53 MX$44.31

-37.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,439

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

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

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

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Tete: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 651%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $251 per month in Tete and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $167 in Tete and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 143% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tete, where all-in costs run around $167, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Tete it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Tete. 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.