🙂A single person spends $1,105 per month in Tulkarm vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,583 per month in Tulkarm vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Tulkarm vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Tulkarm is about 12% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Tulkarm and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tulkarm18% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67₪29.01
$11.67MX$202
-17.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.19₪63.6
$41.88MX$726
-49.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07₪24.20
$10.40MX$180
-22.40%
Cappuccino
$2.81₪8.42
$3.61MX$62.6
-22.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₪2.41
$1.47MX$25.45
-45.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56₪1.69
$0.91MX$15.80
-38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.79₪17.36
$3.03MX$52.6
91.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53₪16.58
$4.47MX$77.4
23.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19₪6.57
$1.38MX$23.83
58.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₪2.36
$1.84MX$31.93
-57.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63₪7.88
$1.61MX$27.82
63.35%
Eggs
$2.23₪6.68
$2.57MX$44.52
-13.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61₪22.84
$8.49MX$147
-10.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.81₪23.43
$8.49MX$147
-8.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.58₪52.7
$10.99MX$190
59.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63₪7.88
$2.73MX$47.25
-3.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₪4.94
$1.50MX$25.92
10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37₪4.12
$1.96MX$33.93
-30.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₪4.49
$2.12MX$36.70
-29.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08₪3.24
$1.86MX$32.30
-41.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38₪4.13
$2.17MX$37.67
-36.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45₪4.35
$1.07MX$18.59
35.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86₪2.57
$1.05MX$18.18
-18.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12₪24.37
$4.19MX$72.6
93.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51₪52.5
$10.28MX$178
70.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74₪8.22
$1.67MX$28.87
64.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52₪7.55
$2.49MX$43.12
1.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75₪8.24
$0.54MX$9.37
409.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.5₪211
$26.27MX$455
168.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84₪8.51
$3.10MX$53.8
-8.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19₪6.56
$2.46MX$42.66
-10.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.05₪42.16
$3.24MX$56.1
333.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96₪5.87
$1.26MX$21.83
55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K₪119.1K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
31.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.7K₪140.0K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
99.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.0₪261
$84.0MX$1,456
3.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.56₪55.7
$22.21MX$385
-16.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.59₪140
$29.65MX$514
57.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.08₪111
$52.6MX$912
-29.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.14₪72.4
$18.34MX$318
31.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56₪25.68
$4.95MX$85.7
72.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118₪353
$198MX$3,438
-40.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,836₪5,507
$5,322MX$92.2K
-65.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6₪185
$35.95MX$623
71.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.59₪116
$40.06MX$694
-3.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2₪265
$78.8MX$1,365
11.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7₪221
$86.5MX$1,499
-14.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284₪851
$977MX$16.9K
-70.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226₪679
$471MX$8,158
-51.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$345₪1,034
$1,595MX$27.6K
-78.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$256₪767
$1,215MX$21.1K
-78.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulkarm
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Tulkarm versus $977 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 in Tulkarm versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Tulkarm vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 14%, 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 $1,658 per month in Tulkarm and $1,891 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 $1,105 in Tulkarm and $1,261 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 168% 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 $1,105, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.