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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,238 per month in Tokushima vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,016 per month in Tokushima vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,793 per month in Tokushima vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tokushima is about 4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tokushima and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tokushima 10% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.83 ¥1,067
$11.71 MX$198
-41.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.72 ¥4,800
$46.59 MX$787
-34.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.93 ¥770
$11.65 MX$197
-57.68%
Cappuccino
$2.46 ¥385
$4.09 MX$69.2
-39.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ¥202
$1.37 MX$23.23
-5.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥126
$0.83 MX$14.09
-3.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 ¥476
$3.35 MX$56.7
-8.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 ¥491
$6.91 MX$117
-54.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ¥236
$1.73 MX$29.19
-12.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ¥230
$2.26 MX$38.20
-34.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 ¥653
$1.77 MX$29.90
136.16%
Eggs
$2.12 ¥331
$2.73 MX$46.18
-22.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.73 ¥2,458
$9.18 MX$155
71.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.09 ¥1,107
$8.92 MX$151
-20.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.73 ¥2,614
$12.60 MX$213
32.78%
Apples (1kg)
$8.13 ¥1,270
$3.02 MX$51.1
169.21%
Banana (1kg)
$3.01 ¥470
$1.57 MX$26.54
91.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.82 ¥753
$2.13 MX$35.92
126.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.30 ¥984
$2.26 MX$38.27
178.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.70 ¥579
$2.00 MX$33.87
85.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.82 ¥596
$2.06 MX$34.89
85.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ¥175
$1.18 MX$19.94
-5.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥131
$1.20 MX$20.35
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.81 ¥595
$4.63 MX$78.3
-17.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.60 ¥1,500
$10.69 MX$181
-10.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 ¥404
$1.62 MX$27.37
59.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ¥326
$2.88 MX$48.69
-27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 ¥234
$0.57 MX$9.69
163.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ¥8,641
$29.83 MX$504
85.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 ¥481
$5.45 MX$92.1
-43.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.76 ¥431
$3.70 MX$62.6
-25.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.60 ¥4,937
$5.98 MX$101
428.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ¥165
$1.55 MX$26.25
-32.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ¥3.4M
$22.3K MX$377.3K
-3.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9K ¥2.3M
$25.9K MX$438.5K
-42.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 ¥17.9K
$89.1 MX$1,506
28.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.70 ¥3,546
$25.04 MX$423
-9.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.80 ¥4,811
$31.50 MX$532
-2.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.7 ¥9,172
$67.8 MX$1,145
-13.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.52 ¥3,987
$28.92 MX$489
-11.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18 ¥1,747
$5.05 MX$85.3
121.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ¥88.5K
$225 MX$3,802
151.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ¥2.3M
$4,222 MX$71.4K
249.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.54 ¥7,739
$47.44 MX$802
4.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.52 ¥5,550
$44.98 MX$760
-21.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.3 ¥9,268
$82.0 MX$1,386
-27.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7 ¥15.1K
$92.1 MX$1,556
4.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ¥72.9K
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-56.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 ¥50.9K
$405 MX$6,850
-19.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 ¥166.0K
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-45.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$718 ¥112.2K
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-44.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,277 ¥668.1K
$3,995 MX$67.5K
7.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,909 ¥298.2K
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-71.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokushima
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,420 ¥221.9K
$749 MX$12.7K
89.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.66
11.45
-85.50%

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

Last update for Tokushima: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Tokushima versus $1,069 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 90% higher in Tokushima, 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 $31.00 in Tokushima versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $367 in Tokushima vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Tokushima vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tokushima?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,857 per month in Tokushima and $1,940 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 Tokushima, 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 Tokushima and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,238 in Tokushima and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 85% less in Tokushima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Tokushima or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tokushima, where all-in costs run around $1,238, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Tokushima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tokushima or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tokushima – 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 Tokushima. 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.

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