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 $784 per month in Trujillo vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Trujillo vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Trujillo vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Trujillo is about 40% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Trujillo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Trujillo 41% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 PEN 10.91

$11.73 MX$203

-72.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.85 PEN 47.14

$41.62 MX$720

-66.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.75 PEN 22.96

$10.64 MX$184

-36.56%

Cappuccino

$2.88 PEN 9.81

$3.52 MX$60.9

-18.18%

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

$0.89 PEN 3.04

$1.51 MX$26.12

-41.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$0.97 MX$16.84

-41.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

$2.95 MX$51.0

-32.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 PEN 11.37

$4.45 MX$77.0

-24.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.38 MX$23.93

-26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 PEN 6.24

$1.89 MX$32.72

-3.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.64 MX$28.32

-30.49%

Eggs

$3.85 PEN 13.11

$2.51 MX$43.34

53.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 PEN 22.22

$8.34 MX$144

-21.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 PEN 25.94

$10.73 MX$186

-28.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.85

$2.60 MX$45.04

-56.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$1.46 MX$25.20

-60.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$1.90 MX$32.87

-69.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 PEN 2.58

$2.08 MX$35.91

-63.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.18

$1.78 MX$30.71

-47.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$2.19 MX$37.80

-63.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 PEN 3.03

$1.04 MX$17.99

-14.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.94

$1.08 MX$18.62

-20.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 PEN 13.77

$4.08 MX$70.6

-0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 PEN 19.63

$10.32 MX$178

-44.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$1.71 MX$29.61

-16.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.80

$2.58 MX$44.54

-34.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.51 MX$8.81

15.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.72 PEN 56.9

$26.46 MX$458

-36.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PEN 9.35

$3.26 MX$56.4

-15.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$2.49 MX$43.09

-17.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 PEN 18.79

$3.25 MX$56.2

69.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$1.31 MX$22.61

3.82%

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

$16.9K PEN 57.7K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-44.03%

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

$26.6K PEN 90.4K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

13.36%

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

$74.4 PEN 253

$82.9 MX$1,433

-10.27%

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

$8.19 PEN 27.85

$22.22 MX$384

-63.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.99 PEN 71.4

$29.34 MX$507

-28.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 PEN 120

$51.6 MX$893

-31.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.65 PEN 19.21

$18.32 MX$317

-69.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 PEN 13.84

$5.07 MX$87.6

-19.72%

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

$106 PEN 360

$201 MX$3,473

-47.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,029 PEN 6,902

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-61.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 PEN 237

$36.92 MX$639

88.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.96 PEN 47.48

$39.79 MX$688

-64.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.78 PEN 115

$78.5 MX$1,357

-56.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.69 PEN 111

$87.1 MX$1,506

-62.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 PEN 1,246

$973 MX$16.8K

-62.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 PEN 865

$468 MX$8,090

-45.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 PEN 2,047

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-63.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 PEN 1,624

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-60.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 PEN 3,872

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-71.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$834 PEN 2,837

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-87.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$539 PEN 1,834

$664 MX$11.5K

-18.79%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in Trujillo 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 23% 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: $160 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 65%, 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 $1,176 per month in Trujillo 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 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 $784 in Trujillo 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 58% 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 $784, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.