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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Tomsk vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,574 per month in Tomsk vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Tomsk vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tomsk is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tomsk and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tomsk 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.27 ₽454

$11.87 MX$204

-47.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 ₽2,346

$42.90 MX$736

-24.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 ₽426

$10.65 MX$183

-44.88%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ₽164

$3.45 MX$59.2

-34.20%

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

$0.98 ₽70.7

$1.50 MX$25.81

-34.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₽33.18

$0.95 MX$16.28

-51.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₽90.7

$3.03 MX$51.9

-58.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₽215

$4.61 MX$79.1

-35.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ₽82.8

$1.38 MX$23.61

-17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₽39.73

$1.85 MX$31.70

-70.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₽132

$1.61 MX$27.65

13.04%

Eggs

$1.66 ₽120

$2.59 MX$44.51

-35.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.84 ₽785

$8.26 MX$142

31.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 ₽399

$8.37 MX$144

-34.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 ₽650

$10.66 MX$183

-15.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 ₽145

$2.63 MX$45.12

-23.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₽143

$1.49 MX$25.53

32.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 ₽154

$1.92 MX$32.94

10.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 ₽272

$2.09 MX$35.81

79.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ₽50.1

$1.86 MX$31.88

-62.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₽41.41

$2.26 MX$38.81

-74.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ₽76.0

$1.06 MX$18.23

-0.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₽42.43

$1.09 MX$18.67

-45.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 ₽179

$4.15 MX$71.2

-40.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 ₽548

$10.39 MX$178

-27.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽61.8

$1.72 MX$29.59

-50.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₽137

$2.61 MX$44.85

-27.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₽28.33

$0.54 MX$9.30

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.30 ₽1,906

$26.94 MX$462

-2.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ₽123

$3.13 MX$53.7

-45.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽18.19

$2.51 MX$43.09

-90.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 ₽446

$3.15 MX$54.1

95.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽53.6

$1.27 MX$21.88

-41.73%

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

$31.1K ₽2.3M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

2.46%

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

$41.5K ₽3.0M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

76.19%

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

$114 ₽8,295

$83.0 MX$1,425

37.92%

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

$5.13 ₽372

$22.71 MX$390

-77.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.28 ₽600

$29.46 MX$506

-71.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 ₽4,571

$51.0 MX$875

23.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.32 ₽1,835

$18.33 MX$315

38.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₽423

$4.93 MX$84.5

18.46%

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

$76.5 ₽5,545

$197 MX$3,386

-61.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,477 ₽324.4K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-15.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 ₽5,532

$36.90 MX$633

106.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.31 ₽2,486

$39.89 MX$685

-13.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ₽9,664

$80.0 MX$1,373

66.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$181 ₽13.1K

$89.5 MX$1,536

102.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 ₽31.7K

$956 MX$16.4K

-54.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₽20.1K

$477 MX$8,189

-41.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₽55.1K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-53.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₽37.5K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-57.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,482 ₽179.8K

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-36.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,734 ₽125.6K

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-73.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,002 ₽72.6K

$667 MX$11.4K

50.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.08

11.42

93.35%

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

Last update for Tomsk: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Tomsk versus $956 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 50% higher in Tomsk, 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 $32.00 in Tomsk versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $250 – making Tomsk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 27%, 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 $1,505 per month in Tomsk and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tomsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Tomsk and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Tomsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tomsk, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Tomsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tomsk. 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.