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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $779 per month in Trujillo vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,173 per month in Trujillo vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,567 per month in Trujillo vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Trujillo is about 38% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Trujillo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Trujillo 42% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 PEN 11.00

$11.99 MX$210

-72.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.70 PEN 46.48

$41.78 MX$733

-67.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 PEN 22.82

$10.75 MX$189

-37.40%

Cappuccino

$2.98 PEN 10.10

$3.50 MX$61.3

-14.86%

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

$0.89 PEN 3.02

$1.45 MX$25.41

-38.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.88 MX$15.52

-32.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PEN 6.52

$2.95 MX$51.7

-34.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.19

$4.51 MX$79.1

-26.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$1.43 MX$25.12

-26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 PEN 6.02

$1.84 MX$32.23

-3.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.82

$1.57 MX$27.51

-28.03%

Eggs

$3.88 PEN 13.15

$2.51 MX$44.06

54.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 PEN 21.96

$8.43 MX$148

-23.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 PEN 25.50

$10.68 MX$187

-29.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.98

$2.61 MX$45.76

-55.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$1.44 MX$25.22

-59.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$1.96 MX$34.41

-70.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$2.09 MX$36.74

-66.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.13

$1.85 MX$32.47

-50.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 PEN 2.78

$2.17 MX$38.02

-62.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 PEN 3.09

$1.03 MX$18.09

-11.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

$1.07 MX$18.84

-14.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.49

$4.10 MX$72.0

4.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.79 PEN 19.63

$10.17 MX$178

-43.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 PEN 4.77

$1.68 MX$29.38

-16.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PEN 5.59

$2.53 MX$44.31

-34.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 PEN 2.16

$0.51 MX$8.93

25.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.38 PEN 55.6

$26.04 MX$457

-37.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 PEN 9.49

$3.23 MX$56.7

-13.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$2.41 MX$42.19

-17.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 PEN 19.22

$3.23 MX$56.6

75.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$1.32 MX$23.17

3.03%

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

$16.9K PEN 57.3K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-43.11%

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

$26.2K PEN 88.9K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

10.71%

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

$76.6 PEN 260

$82.0 MX$1,439

-6.65%

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

$8.48 PEN 28.78

$22.95 MX$403

-63.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.22 PEN 72.0

$30.11 MX$528

-29.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.00 PEN 122

$52.0 MX$912

-30.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 PEN 18.30

$18.53 MX$325

-70.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PEN 14.11

$4.98 MX$87.3

-16.47%

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

$102 PEN 346

$197 MX$3,463

-48.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 PEN 6,660

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-63.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 PEN 240

$35.60 MX$624

98.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.00 PEN 47.48

$40.33 MX$707

-65.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.71 PEN 111

$78.8 MX$1,381

-58.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.74 PEN 111

$88.9 MX$1,560

-63.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 PEN 1,238

$947 MX$16.6K

-61.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 PEN 871

$474 MX$8,314

-45.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 PEN 2,043

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-63.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 PEN 1,659

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-59.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 PEN 3,860

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-71.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$821 PEN 2,786

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-87.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 PEN 1,779

$654 MX$11.5K

-19.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.7

11.42

11.21%

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

Last update for Trujillo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Trujillo versus $947 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 25% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Trujillo versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $249 – making Trujillo 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 61%, 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 $1,169 per month in Trujillo and $1,884 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 Trujillo, 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 $779 in Trujillo and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 59% less in Trujillo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Trujillo, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Trujillo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Trujillo – 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 Trujillo. 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.