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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $842 per month in Torreon vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Torreon vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,973 per month in Torreon vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Torreon is about 33% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Torreon and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Torreon 37% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.29 MX$162

$11.95 MX$208

-22.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.11 MX$733

$41.94 MX$730

0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 MX$136

$10.42 MX$181

-24.95%

Cappuccino

$2.42 MX$42.07

$3.51 MX$61.2

-31.05%

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

$1.20 MX$20.91

$1.52 MX$26.39

-21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.32

$0.91 MX$15.84

-9.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 MX$27.25

$3.04 MX$52.9

-48.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$4.37 MX$76.1

-28.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 MX$26.16

$1.42 MX$24.73

5.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 MX$52.9

$1.83 MX$31.87

66.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.21

$1.63 MX$28.45

6.75%

Eggs

$2.31 MX$40.12

$2.54 MX$44.20

-9.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 MX$156

$8.57 MX$149

4.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 MX$110

$8.49 MX$148

-25.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 MX$215

$10.80 MX$188

14.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 MX$44.87

$2.75 MX$47.94

-6.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 MX$21.09

$1.44 MX$25.00

-15.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.43

$1.89 MX$32.83

-7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 MX$20.50

$2.17 MX$37.77

-45.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 MX$29.60

$1.78 MX$30.97

-4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.35

$2.22 MX$38.71

-26.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MX$19.35

$1.07 MX$18.60

3.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.29

$1.08 MX$18.79

2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 MX$70.8

$4.15 MX$72.2

-1.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.12 MX$176

$10.45 MX$182

-3.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 MX$21.53

$1.74 MX$30.34

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MX$33.46

$2.58 MX$44.92

-25.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MX$11.95

$0.51 MX$8.94

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.66 MX$203

$25.94 MX$451

-55.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MX$31.98

$3.21 MX$55.9

-42.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 MX$12.14

$2.50 MX$43.55

-72.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MX$162

$3.19 MX$55.4

192.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 MX$21.23

$1.26 MX$21.87

-3.17%

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

$19.1K MX$332.0K

$29.7K MX$516.6K

-35.74%

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

$19.6K MX$341.4K

$23.7K MX$412.1K

-17.17%

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

$55.7 MX$970

$82.0 MX$1,427

-32.05%

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

$22.69 MX$395

$22.73 MX$395

-0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.81 MX$397

$29.42 MX$512

-22.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 MX$697

$52.2 MX$908

-23.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.03 MX$157

$18.45 MX$321

-51.06%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 MX$67.9

$4.93 MX$85.9

-20.89%

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

$207 MX$3,603

$202 MX$3,511

2.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,465 MX$77.7K

$5,217 MX$90.8K

-14.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 MX$848

$35.93 MX$625

35.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.51 MX$600

$40.33 MX$702

-14.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MX$1,522

$79.9 MX$1,390

9.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 MX$1,348

$89.3 MX$1,554

-13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 MX$4,686

$948 MX$16.5K

-71.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 MX$2,936

$465 MX$8,097

-63.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 MX$8,541

$1,630 MX$28.4K

-69.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MX$6,105

$1,193 MX$20.8K

-70.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,710 MX$29.8K

$3,933 MX$68.4K

-56.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 MX$23.5K

$6,428 MX$111.9K

-78.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$796 MX$13.9K

$658 MX$11.5K

20.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

11.42

0.70%

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

Last update for Torreon: July 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $269 in Torreon versus $948 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 21% higher in Torreon, 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 $42.00 in Torreon versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $252 – making Torreon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 49%, 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 $1,264 per month in Torreon and $1,888 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 Torreon, 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 $842 in Torreon and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 122% less in Torreon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Torreon, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. In Torreon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Torreon – 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 Torreon. 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.