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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,056 per month in Tulkarm vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,562 per month in Tulkarm vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,069 per month in Tulkarm vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tulkarm is about 17% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tulkarm and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tulkarm 21% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.00 ₪29.53
$11.87 MX$207
-15.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.96 ₪61.9
$42.90 MX$749
-51.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.66 ₪22.62
$10.65 MX$186
-28.08%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ₪8.71
$3.45 MX$60.2
-14.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₪2.22
$1.50 MX$26.24
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₪1.80
$0.95 MX$16.56
-35.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 ₪16.74
$3.03 MX$52.8
87.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79 ₪17.08
$4.61 MX$80.4
25.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ₪6.45
$1.38 MX$24.01
57.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₪2.38
$1.85 MX$32.24
-56.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₪7.40
$1.61 MX$28.11
55.90%
Eggs
$2.24 ₪6.62
$2.59 MX$45.26
-13.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 ₪22.20
$8.26 MX$144
-8.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.75 ₪22.87
$8.37 MX$146
-7.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.61 ₪52.0
$10.66 MX$186
65.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ₪7.72
$2.63 MX$45.89
-0.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ₪4.93
$1.49 MX$25.96
12.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ₪4.13
$1.92 MX$33.50
-27.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ₪4.24
$2.09 MX$36.41
-31.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ₪3.21
$1.86 MX$32.42
-41.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ₪3.95
$2.26 MX$39.47
-40.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 ₪4.25
$1.06 MX$18.54
35.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₪2.59
$1.09 MX$18.98
-19.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.19 ₪24.19
$4.15 MX$72.4
97.35%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.39 MX$181
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₪8.27
$1.72 MX$30.09
62.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₪7.48
$2.61 MX$45.60
-2.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.90 ₪8.57
$0.54 MX$9.46
437.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.6 ₪205
$26.94 MX$470
158.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 ₪8.12
$3.13 MX$54.6
-12.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 ₪6.49
$2.51 MX$43.82
-12.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.12 ₪41.69
$3.15 MX$55.0
348.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 ₪5.75
$1.27 MX$22.25
53.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9K ₪117.7K
$30.4K MX$530.1K
31.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4K ₪137.0K
$23.6K MX$411.3K
97.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.1 ₪248
$83.0 MX$1,449
1.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.27 ₪56.9
$22.71 MX$396
-15.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.46 ₪137
$29.46 MX$514
57.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.90 ₪109
$51.0 MX$890
-27.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.11 ₪71.2
$18.33 MX$320
31.53%
Cinema Ticket
$8.54 ₪25.21
$4.93 MX$86.0
73.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 ₪340
$197 MX$3,444
-41.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,852 ₪5,467
$5,280 MX$92.1K
-64.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₪187
$36.90 MX$644
72.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 ₪114
$39.89 MX$696
-3.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 ₪259
$80.0 MX$1,396
9.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7 ₪212
$89.5 MX$1,561
-19.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 ₪835
$956 MX$16.7K
-70.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$229 ₪675
$477 MX$8,327
-52.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$341 ₪1,006
$1,646 MX$28.7K
-79.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$252 ₪745
$1,225 MX$21.4K
-79.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$112.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$667 MX$11.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.62
11.42
-50.79%

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

Last update for Tulkarm: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Tulkarm versus $956 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 $21.00 in Tulkarm versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $250 – making Tulkarm 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
Tulkarm vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tulkarm?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,584 per month in Tulkarm and $1,906 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 Tulkarm, 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 Tulkarm vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,056 in Tulkarm and $1,271 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 158% less in Tulkarm. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tulkarm or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tulkarm, where all-in costs run around $1,056, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Tulkarm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tulkarm or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tulkarm – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tulkarm. 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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