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 $832 per month in Torreon vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,376 per month in Torreon vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,920 per month in Torreon vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Torreon is about 36% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Torreon and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Torreon 38% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.99 MX$157

$11.73 MX$205

-23.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.55 MX$743

$41.62 MX$727

2.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.73 MX$135

$10.64 MX$186

-27.35%

Cappuccino

$2.36 MX$41.23

$3.52 MX$61.5

-32.95%

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

$1.15 MX$20.16

$1.51 MX$26.37

-23.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MX$14.21

$0.97 MX$17.00

-16.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 MX$28.36

$2.95 MX$51.5

-45.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 MX$56.5

$4.45 MX$77.8

-27.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MX$25.28

$1.38 MX$24.16

5.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 MX$52.2

$1.89 MX$33.04

58.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$30.05

$1.64 MX$28.59

4.88%

Eggs

$2.22 MX$38.69

$2.51 MX$43.76

-11.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 MX$157

$8.34 MX$146

7.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 MX$112

$8.34 MX$146

-23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 MX$215

$10.73 MX$187

14.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 MX$43.42

$2.60 MX$45.48

-4.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 MX$20.97

$1.46 MX$25.45

-17.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.41

$1.90 MX$33.19

-8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MX$21.34

$2.08 MX$36.26

-41.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.60

$1.78 MX$31.01

-7.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 MX$27.00

$2.19 MX$38.16

-29.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MX$19.44

$1.04 MX$18.16

6.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MX$18.56

$1.08 MX$18.80

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 MX$68.7

$4.08 MX$71.3

-3.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$180

$10.32 MX$180

-0.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 MX$21.46

$1.71 MX$29.90

-28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 MX$35.15

$2.58 MX$44.98

-22.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MX$11.84

$0.51 MX$8.90

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MX$207

$26.46 MX$462

-55.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 MX$31.77

$3.26 MX$57.0

-44.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MX$13.14

$2.49 MX$43.51

-69.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.06 MX$158

$3.25 MX$56.7

178.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.94

$1.31 MX$22.83

-3.82%

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

$19.5K MX$340.0K

$30.3K MX$528.8K

-35.72%

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

$20.0K MX$349.4K

$23.4K MX$409.2K

-14.60%

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

$57.0 MX$995

$82.9 MX$1,447

-31.28%

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

$22.50 MX$393

$22.22 MX$388

1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.10 MX$403

$29.34 MX$512

-21.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.29 MX$686

$51.6 MX$902

-23.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.44 MX$165

$18.32 MX$320

-48.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.88 MX$67.7

$5.07 MX$88.5

-23.47%

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

$203 MX$3,550

$201 MX$3,507

1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,406 MX$77.0K

$5,212 MX$91.0K

-15.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.40 MX$845

$36.92 MX$645

31.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.05 MX$612

$39.79 MX$695

-11.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MX$1,528

$78.5 MX$1,370

11.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 MX$1,356

$87.1 MX$1,521

-10.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 MX$4,623

$973 MX$17.0K

-72.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 MX$2,947

$468 MX$8,169

-63.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$483 MX$8,432

$1,641 MX$28.7K

-70.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 MX$6,208

$1,221 MX$21.3K

-70.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,713 MX$29.9K

$3,946 MX$68.9K

-56.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,368 MX$23.9K

$6,498 MX$113.5K

-78.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$810 MX$14.2K

$664 MX$11.6K

22.06%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $265 in Torreon versus $973 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 22% 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 $43.00 in Torreon versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Torreon vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Torreon 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 56%, 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 $1,247 per month in Torreon and $1,945 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 $832 in Torreon and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 123% 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 $832, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.