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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $184 per month in Toliara vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $273 per month in Toliara vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $363 per month in Toliara vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Toliara is about 85% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Toliara and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Toliara 87% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.90 MGA 8,282

$11.60 MX$199

-83.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$809

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$204

Cappuccino

$0.84 MGA 3,658

$3.98 MX$68.2

-78.89%

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

$0.66 MGA 2,873

$1.43 MX$24.49

-53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 MGA 6,452

$1.68 MX$28.76

-11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.71

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.39 MGA 1,702

$1.71 MX$29.32

-77.19%

Eggs

$2.19 MGA 9,536

$2.74 MX$47.05

-20.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 MGA 21.4K

$9.01 MX$155

-45.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 MGA 22.6K

$12.81 MX$220

-59.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.58

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 MGA 3,105

$1.50 MX$25.70

-52.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.87

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 MGA 7,880

$2.26 MX$38.79

-19.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MGA 2,328

$1.98 MX$34.00

-73.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MGA 3,135

$1.20 MX$20.54

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 MGA 7,955

$4.55 MX$78.1

-60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 MGA 25.9K

$10.37 MX$178

-42.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MGA 3,133

$1.62 MX$27.79

-55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.37

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,569

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

$17.16 MGA 74.9K

$25.20 MX$433

-31.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.95 MGA 152.5K

$31.24 MX$536

11.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,154

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

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

$224 MX$3,839

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Toliara: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 589%, 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 $276 per month in Toliara and $1,899 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 $184 in Toliara and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 165% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Toliara, where all-in costs run around $184, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Toliara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Toliara – 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 Toliara. 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.