Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga: $1,120 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,120
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,120 per month in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Tlajomulco de Zúñiga $1,120
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $1,802 per month in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Tlajomulco de Zúñiga $1,802
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $2,484 per month in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Tlajomulco de Zúñiga $2,484
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Tlajomulco de Zúñiga is about 7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tlajomulco de Zúñiga 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.43 MX$248
$10.86 MX$201
23.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.20 MX$798
$44.21 MX$817
-2.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 MX$168
$11.76 MX$217
-22.45%
Cappuccino
$3.22 MX$59.6
$3.68 MX$68.0
-12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.57
$1.34 MX$24.79
23.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$21.18
$0.82 MX$15.24
40.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 MX$39.33
$3.06 MX$56.6
-30.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 MX$90.7
$4.94 MX$91.2
-0.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$29.82
$1.47 MX$27.17
9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 MX$48.26
$2.22 MX$40.95
17.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.61
$1.48 MX$27.32
4.73%
Eggs
$2.42 MX$44.78
$2.49 MX$45.99
-2.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.88 MX$164
$7.52 MX$139
18.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$155
$7.96 MX$147
5.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.30 MX$190
$12.57 MX$232
-18.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 MX$43.98
$2.78 MX$51.3
-14.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.71
$1.43 MX$26.37
8.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 MX$24.48
$2.62 MX$48.37
-49.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 MX$24.44
$2.14 MX$39.49
-38.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 MX$30.76
$2.02 MX$37.38
-17.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 MX$20.45
$1.99 MX$36.74
-44.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 MX$27.82
$1.14 MX$21.01
32.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 MX$18.48
$1.20 MX$22.18
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.37 MX$80.8
$4.26 MX$78.7
2.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.52 MX$176
$10.02 MX$185
-4.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.34
$1.54 MX$28.41
6.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 MX$60.8
$2.66 MX$49.17
23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 MX$12.40
$0.53 MX$9.73
26.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 MX$41.14
$4.90 MX$90.6
-54.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 MX$24.48
$3.43 MX$63.5
-61.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.82 MX$218
$5.38 MX$99.4
119.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$24.84
$1.45 MX$26.76
-7.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$392.1K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
0.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$426.9K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.69 MX$918
$85.4 MX$1,577
-41.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.89 MX$423
$23.46 MX$434
-2.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.65 MX$400
$28.43 MX$525
-23.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.43 MX$636
$62.2 MX$1,149
-44.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.83 MX$366
$28.68 MX$530
-30.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.22 MX$59.6
$5.10 MX$94.3
-36.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$256 MX$4,739
$201 MX$3,715
27.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$197.2K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
170.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 MX$1,080
$44.39 MX$820
31.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.50 MX$748
$41.35 MX$764
-2.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,927
$72.7 MX$1,344
43.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 MX$1,500
$89.6 MX$1,656
-9.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 MX$11.0K
$979 MX$18.1K
-39.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 MX$7,219
$373 MX$6,887
4.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,031 MX$19.1K
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-38.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 MX$13.9K
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-31.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,802 MX$33.3K
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-54.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,216 MX$22.5K
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-80.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$616 MX$11.4K
$738 MX$13.6K
-16.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
11.45
-53.54%

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

Last update for Tlajomulco de Zúñiga: October 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$391
Playa del Carmen
$373 4.6% $18
Groceries & Markets
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$250
Playa del Carmen
$258 3.5% $8.7
Eating Out
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$205
Playa del Carmen
$200 2.4% $5
Clothing & Footwear
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$128
Playa del Carmen
$112 12.8% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$94
Playa del Carmen
$137 45.7% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$41
Playa del Carmen
$72 77.1% $32
Getting Around
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
$12 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 348% $40

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $596 in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga versus $979 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 20% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $258 – making Tlajomulco de Zúñiga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
02:50 2:50 AM
03:50 3:50 AM
1 h ahead of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,103
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tlajomulco de Zúñiga Playa del Carmen 1,700 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tlajomulco de Zúñiga
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tlajomulco de Zúñiga?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 8%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,680 per month in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and $1,806 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 Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, 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 Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,120 in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 8%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $256 per month in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, where all-in costs run around $1,120, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Tlajomulco de Zúñiga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tlajomulco de Zúñiga or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tlajomulco de Zúñiga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tlajomulco de Zúñiga. 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.

Tlajomulco de Zúñiga vs other spots: cost of living compared

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