😐A single person spends $2,179 per month in Tournai vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,279 per month in Tournai vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,379 per month in Tournai vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Tournai costs about 72% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Tournai sits 59% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.92€19.99
$11.60MX$200
97.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109€94.8
$47.11MX$811
130.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.08€12.28
$11.88MX$205
18.52%
Cappuccino
$4.58€3.99
$3.98MX$68.4
15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64€3.18
$1.43MX$24.56
154.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75€3.27
$0.82MX$14.20
357.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.03
$3.19MX$54.9
80.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38€5.57
$6.79MX$117
-6.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.19
$1.68MX$28.84
-19.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82€2.46
$2.20MX$37.82
28.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.22€1.94
$1.71MX$29.40
29.82%
Eggs
$3.73€3.25
$2.74MX$47.18
36.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.54€15.29
$9.58MX$165
83.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20€10.64
$9.01MX$155
35.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.05€20.98
$12.81MX$221
87.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14€2.74
$2.89MX$49.72
8.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50€2.18
$1.50MX$25.77
66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70€2.35
$2.15MX$36.97
25.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50€3.05
$2.26MX$38.90
54.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$1.98MX$34.09
24.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93€1.68
$1.99MX$34.25
-3.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.34
$1.23MX$21.25
25.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.95
$1.20MX$20.60
-9.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.05€11.38
$4.55MX$78.3
186.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42€8.21
$10.37MX$179
-9.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.55
$1.62MX$27.87
9.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.85
$2.88MX$49.58
-26.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.10€2.70
$0.60MX$10.33
416.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.1€46.32
$28.80MX$496
84.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€4.92
$5.39MX$92.7
4.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.72€2.37
$3.73MX$64.2
-27.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.11€32.36
$5.77MX$99.3
543.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12€1.85
$1.54MX$26.44
37.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€32.2K
$22.5KMX$388.1K
63.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K€30.5K
$26.1KMX$448.5K
34.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214€187
$91.4MX$1,573
134.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.03€19.21
$25.20MX$434
-12.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.74€43.37
$31.24MX$538
59.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94€33.09
$67.2MX$1,157
-43.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.36€17.76
$29.11MX$501
-30.06%
Cinema Ticket
$15.78€13.77
$4.86MX$83.7
224.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$742€647
$224MX$3,850
231.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.4K€30.0K
$4,229MX$72.8K
714.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116€101
$47.10MX$811
146.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8€46.90
$44.29MX$762
21.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€92.6
$80.1MX$1,379
32.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$175€152
$92.7MX$1,595
88.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$893€779
$1,063MX$18.3K
-15.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$842€735
$390MX$6,717
115.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,061
$2,149MX$37.0K
-43.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,037€905
$1,272MX$21.9K
-18.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,271€3,725
$4,001MX$68.9K
6.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,071€2,678
$6,502MX$111.9K
-52.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tournai
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
11.45
-69.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tournai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $893 in Tournai versus $1,063 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in Tournai versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $276 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Tournai vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tournai?
Yes – Tournai is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,269 per month in Tournai and $1,899 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Tournai and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,179 in Tournai and $1,266 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 84% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tournai or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Tournai at $2,179. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tournai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tournai or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tournai or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tournai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.