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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,147 per month in Toyama vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,850 per month in Toyama vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,553 per month in Toyama vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Toyama is about 11% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Toyama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Toyama 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.85 ¥602
$11.71 MX$198
-67.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.75 ¥6,835
$46.59 MX$787
-6.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.06 ¥790
$11.65 MX$197
-56.57%
Cappuccino
$3.44 ¥537
$4.09 MX$69.2
-15.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ¥169
$1.37 MX$23.23
-21.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥124
$0.83 MX$14.09
-3.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ¥381
$3.35 MX$56.7
-27.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ¥497
$6.91 MX$117
-53.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥170
$1.73 MX$29.19
-36.99%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 ¥122
$2.26 MX$38.20
-65.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.59 ¥561
$1.77 MX$29.90
102.82%
Eggs
$1.98 ¥309
$2.73 MX$46.18
-27.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.72 ¥1,831
$9.18 MX$155
27.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.14 ¥959
$8.92 MX$151
-31.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 ¥2,219
$12.60 MX$213
12.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.69 ¥889
$3.02 MX$51.1
88.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 ¥437
$1.57 MX$26.54
78.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 ¥452
$2.13 MX$35.92
35.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.05 ¥632
$2.26 MX$38.27
79.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 ¥408
$2.00 MX$33.87
30.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 ¥406
$2.06 MX$34.89
26.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 ¥193
$1.18 MX$19.94
4.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ¥107
$1.20 MX$20.35
-42.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78 ¥591
$4.63 MX$78.3
-18.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 ¥972
$10.69 MX$181
-41.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ¥267
$1.62 MX$27.37
5.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ¥308
$2.88 MX$48.69
-31.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 ¥234
$0.57 MX$9.69
163.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.7 ¥8,081
$29.83 MX$504
73.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ¥476
$5.45 MX$92.1
-44.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.56 ¥401
$3.70 MX$62.6
-30.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.19 ¥3,154
$5.98 MX$101
237.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥171
$1.55 MX$26.25
-29.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ¥3.3M
$22.3K MX$377.3K
-5.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K ¥2.8M
$25.9K MX$438.5K
-30.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 ¥20.6K
$89.1 MX$1,506
47.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.27 ¥3,791
$25.04 MX$423
-3.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.86 ¥4,976
$31.50 MX$532
1.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.7 ¥7,924
$67.8 MX$1,145
-25.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 ¥1,777
$5.05 MX$85.3
125.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 ¥96.1K
$225 MX$3,802
173.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K ¥2.3M
$4,222 MX$71.4K
243.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7 ¥9,489
$47.44 MX$802
28.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.63 ¥5,097
$44.98 MX$760
-27.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.7 ¥9,484
$82.0 MX$1,386
-25.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥15.8K
$92.1 MX$1,556
9.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 ¥37.1K
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-77.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 ¥54.5K
$405 MX$6,850
-13.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 ¥169.1K
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-44.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$683 ¥106.6K
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-47.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,012 ¥626.8K
$3,995 MX$67.5K
0.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,868 ¥291.8K
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-71.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toyama
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.12
11.45
-81.48%

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

Last update for Toyama: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Toyama versus $1,069 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 $44.00 in Toyama versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Toyama vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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
Toyama vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Toyama?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,720 per month in Toyama and $1,940 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 Toyama, 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 Toyama and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,147 in Toyama and $1,293 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 73% less in Toyama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Toyama or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Toyama, where all-in costs run around $1,147, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Toyama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Toyama or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toyama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Toyama 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 Toyama. 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.

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