🙂A single person spends $1,023 per month in Treinta y Tres vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,580 per month in Treinta y Tres vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,137 per month in Treinta y Tres vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Treinta y Tres is about 19% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Treinta y Tres and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Treinta y Tres23% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.58UYU 546
$11.72MX$203
15.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.23UYU 1,738
$41.89MX$725
3.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.81UYU 354
$10.51MX$182
-16.18%
Cappuccino
$2.72UYU 109
$3.59MX$62.0
-24.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26UYU 91.0
$1.51MX$26.10
49.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71UYU 68.8
$0.92MX$15.83
85.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18UYU 87.7
$2.96MX$51.2
-26.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85UYU 115
$4.41MX$76.3
-35.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11UYU 44.69
$1.40MX$24.16
-20.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26UYU 90.9
$1.88MX$32.60
20.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63UYU 65.4
$1.56MX$26.97
4.49%
Eggs
$3.72UYU 149
$2.61MX$45.14
42.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.40UYU 499
$8.32MX$144
49.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.48UYU 341
$8.35MX$145
1.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.16UYU 288
$10.86MX$188
-34.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15UYU 86.3
$2.71MX$46.93
-20.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24UYU 49.80
$1.51MX$26.04
-17.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44UYU 58.0
$1.87MX$32.41
-22.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38UYU 95.5
$2.19MX$37.89
8.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24UYU 49.99
$1.86MX$32.14
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85UYU 74.5
$2.23MX$38.59
-17.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12UYU 44.86
$1.07MX$18.48
4.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66UYU 66.9
$1.09MX$18.79
52.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22UYU 210
$4.19MX$72.4
24.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.63UYU 226
$10.43MX$180
-46.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26UYU 91.0
$1.66MX$28.68
36.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05UYU 123
$2.61MX$45.19
16.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19UYU 47.74
$3.08MX$53.3
-61.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.43UYU 97.7
$2.40MX$41.61
1.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.52UYU 504
$3.13MX$54.1
300.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83UYU 73.6
$1.31MX$22.69
39.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KUYU 795.7K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KUYU 1.5M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
55.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110UYU 4,431
$81.3MX$1,406
35.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.33UYU 496
$22.56MX$390
-45.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.76UYU 1,478
$30.05MX$520
22.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.82UYU 1,199
$52.9MX$915
-43.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.02UYU 242
$4.92MX$85.1
22.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171UYU 6,860
$201MX$3,474
-15.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,641UYU 106.2K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-48.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7UYU 2,439
$35.92MX$622
68.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.53UYU 785
$40.13MX$694
-51.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.4UYU 3,794
$79.7MX$1,379
18.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111UYU 4,461
$86.5MX$1,496
28.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437UYU 17.6K
$978MX$16.9K
-55.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244UYU 9,810
$470MX$8,140
-48.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607UYU 24.4K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-63.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$363UYU 14.6K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-69.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$806UYU 32.4K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-79.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Treinta y Tres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$737UYU 29.6K
$677MX$11.7K
8.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.42
-64.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Treinta y Tres: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Treinta y Tres versus $978 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 9% higher in Treinta y Tres, 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 Treinta y Tres versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $252 – 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
Treinta y Tres vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Treinta y Tres?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,535 per month in Treinta y Tres and $1,890 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 Treinta y Tres, 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 Treinta y Tres and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,023 in Treinta y Tres and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $171 per month in Treinta y Tres and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Treinta y Tres or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Treinta y Tres, where all-in costs run around $1,023, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Treinta y Tres it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Treinta y Tres or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Treinta y Tres – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres. 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.
Treinta y Tres vs other spots: cost of living compared