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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,093 per month in Tula vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,771 per month in Tula vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,449 per month in Tula vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tula is about 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tula and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tula 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.82 ₽1,007

$11.99 MX$209

6.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.2 ₽4,575

$41.78 MX$728

39.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.22 ₽489

$10.75 MX$187

-42.14%

Cappuccino

$2.04 ₽160

$3.50 MX$60.9

-41.71%

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

$1.39 ₽109

$1.45 MX$25.22

-4.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽49.37

$0.88 MX$15.41

-28.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 ₽156

$2.95 MX$51.3

-32.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₽245

$4.51 MX$78.6

-30.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₽103

$1.43 MX$24.94

-8.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.61 ₽47.96

$1.84 MX$31.99

-66.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ₽131

$1.57 MX$27.31

6.37%

Eggs

$1.93 ₽152

$2.51 MX$43.74

-23.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 ₽995

$8.28 MX$144

53.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.32 ₽418

$8.43 MX$147

-36.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.53 ₽435

$10.68 MX$186

-48.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽148

$2.61 MX$45.43

-27.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₽162

$1.44 MX$25.04

43.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽152

$1.96 MX$34.16

-1.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ₽208

$2.09 MX$36.47

26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽80.6

$1.85 MX$32.24

-44.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 ₽61.6

$2.17 MX$37.74

-64.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽133

$1.03 MX$17.96

64.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₽62.1

$1.07 MX$18.70

-26.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 ₽195

$4.10 MX$71.4

-39.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 ₽609

$10.17 MX$177

-23.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₽81.3

$1.68 MX$29.17

-38.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₽82.2

$2.53 MX$43.98

-58.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₽37.12

$0.51 MX$8.87

-7.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.48 ₽1,374

$26.04 MX$453

-32.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ₽107

$3.23 MX$56.3

-57.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₽25.52

$2.41 MX$41.88

-86.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 ₽646

$3.23 MX$56.2

154.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽63.2

$1.32 MX$23.00

-39.39%

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

$23.0K ₽1.8M

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-22.62%

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

$30.4K ₽2.4M

$23.7K MX$412.0K

28.26%

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

$149 ₽11.7K

$82.0 MX$1,428

81.69%

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

$8.07 ₽634

$22.95 MX$400

-64.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.16 ₽641

$30.11 MX$524

-72.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.86 ₽1,325

$52.0 MX$905

-67.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 ₽1,540

$18.53 MX$323

5.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 ₽503

$4.98 MX$86.6

28.51%

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

$705 ₽55.4K

$197 MX$3,438

257.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ₽1.1M

$5,336 MX$92.9K

172.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.3 ₽6,933

$35.60 MX$620

147.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 ₽4,224

$40.33 MX$702

33.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.6K

$78.8 MX$1,371

70.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 ₽12.8K

$88.9 MX$1,549

82.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 ₽30.1K

$947 MX$16.5K

-59.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 ₽25.0K

$474 MX$8,254

-32.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$691 ₽54.3K

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-57.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 ₽44.9K

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-52.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,981 ₽155.6K

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-51.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 ₽92.8K

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-81.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$973 ₽76.4K

$654 MX$11.4K

48.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.86

11.42

30.12%

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

Last update for Tula: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Tula 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 49% higher in Tula, 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 $58.0 in Tula versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Tula vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Tula wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,639 per month in Tula 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 Tula, 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 $1,093 in Tula 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 49% less in Tula. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tula, where all-in costs run around $1,093, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Tula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Tula. 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.