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

😐 Solo nomad: Timaru is 51.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 59.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Timaru is 26.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 38.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.17 NZ$25.95
$11.85 MX$212
28.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 NZ$136
$42.16 MX$755
89.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 NZ$16.85
$10.75 MX$192
-8.37%
Cappuccino
$3.39 NZ$5.80
$3.47 MX$62.2
-2.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 NZ$3.73
$1.45 MX$26.01
50.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 NZ$3.19
$0.90 MX$16.16
107.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 NZ$10.08
$3.05 MX$54.7
93.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 NZ$10.01
$4.42 MX$79.1
32.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 NZ$2.75
$1.37 MX$24.51
17.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 NZ$3.35
$1.87 MX$33.51
4.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 NZ$2.01
$1.54 MX$27.63
-23.38%
Eggs
$6.33 NZ$10.82
$2.50 MX$44.81
153.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.67 NZ$16.54
$8.61 MX$154
12.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.76 NZ$18.40
$8.63 MX$155
24.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.95 NZ$28.99
$11.02 MX$197
53.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 NZ$4.53
$2.75 MX$49.22
-3.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 NZ$4.40
$1.43 MX$25.56
79.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 NZ$5.08
$1.87 MX$33.52
58.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.90 NZ$10.09
$2.17 MX$38.80
171.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 NZ$4.43
$1.88 MX$33.70
37.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 NZ$4.08
$2.25 MX$40.21
6.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 NZ$4.86
$1.07 MX$19.11
165.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 NZ$1.95
$1.07 MX$19.22
6.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$28.48 NZ$48.71
$4.15 MX$74.4
586.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 NZ$12.43
$10.34 MX$185
-29.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 NZ$7.89
$1.68 MX$30.06
174.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 NZ$12.05
$2.48 MX$44.46
184.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 NZ$3.54
$0.55 MX$9.93
276.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.9 NZ$111
$26.53 MX$475
144.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 NZ$4.93
$3.22 MX$57.6
-10.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NZ$1.87
$2.48 MX$44.42
-56.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.23 NZ$55.1
$3.11 MX$55.7
936.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.79
$1.26 MX$22.48
29.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K NZ$50.0K
$30.7K MX$548.8K
-4.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K NZ$30.4K
$24.0K MX$430.3K
-26.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 NZ$330
$82.5 MX$1,476
134.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.71 NZ$40.54
$22.29 MX$399
6.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 NZ$99.6
$30.02 MX$537
94.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.92 NZ$63.1
$51.4 MX$921
-28.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24 NZ$20.93
$18.29 MX$327
-33.08%
Cinema Ticket
$13.04 NZ$22.30
$4.98 MX$89.2
161.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 NZ$858
$200 MX$3,580
150.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,129 NZ$12.2K
$5,304 MX$94.9K
34.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2 NZ$147
$35.71 MX$639
141.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.05 NZ$83.9
$39.56 MX$708
23.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 NZ$162
$80.6 MX$1,442
17.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$281 NZ$481
$88.3 MX$1,581
218.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 NZ$1,674
$969 MX$17.4K
0.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$783 NZ$1,338
$482 MX$8,632
62.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,543 NZ$2,638
$1,595 MX$28.6K
-3.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,433 NZ$2,450
$1,184 MX$21.2K
21.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,134 NZ$8,779
$4,050 MX$72.5K
26.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,424 NZ$5,855
$6,522 MX$116.7K
-47.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timaru
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$756 MX$13.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
11.42
-40.98%

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

Last update for Timaru: February 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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