😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Tulum versus $999 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Tulum versus $1,577 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,748 in Tulum versus $2,154 in Kempton Park.
😐Living in Tulum is roughly 6% more expensive than Kempton Park, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tulum21% lower, Kempton Park26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76MX$185
$8.60R 139
25.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.52MX$850
$33.13R 536
49.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.89MX$135
$4.92R 79.5
60.37%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$63.5
$2.15R 34.82
72.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.72
$1.03R 16.61
17.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06MX$18.26
$0.83R 13.34
27.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80MX$48.04
$2.20R 35.52
27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04MX$69.4
$2.48R 40.09
62.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$24.91
$1.23R 19.93
17.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15MX$19.66
$1.02R 16.50
12.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.66
$1.66R 26.81
-10.24%
Eggs
$1.93MX$33.20
$2.45R 39.63
-21.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.36MX$92.1
$7.92R 128
-32.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.12MX$122
$4.85R 78.4
46.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.19MX$106
$6.86R 111
-9.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.35
$1.69R 27.31
21.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36MX$23.39
$1.55R 25.10
-12.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42MX$24.35
$1.66R 26.77
-14.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40MX$24.10
$1.71R 27.62
-18.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.27
$1.44R 23.23
50.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.51
$1.44R 23.29
31.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.42
$1.04R 16.84
2.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.80
$1.17R 18.87
-21.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$70.3
$2.89R 46.70
41.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.48MX$146
$5.55R 89.7
52.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$23.23
$1.51R 24.37
-10.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25MX$21.41
$1.77R 28.58
-29.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17MX$20.14
$1.37R 22.15
-14.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$56.7R 917
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.16MX$37.08
$1.15R 18.56
87.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22MX$38.10
$0.91R 14.68
143.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.35MX$91.8
$3.92R 63.3
36.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.58
$1.28R 20.67
3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.0KMX$273.8K
$22.1KR 357.5K
-27.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KMX$365.8K
$24.1KR 390.1K
-11.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7MX$1,436
$124R 2,005
-32.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.27MX$382
$40.25R 651
-44.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.53MX$507
$42.94R 694
-31.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.48MX$557
$25.77R 417
26.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.06MX$276
$5.73R 92.6
180.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.74MX$81.4
$7.63R 123
-37.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$203MX$3,479
$211R 3,413
-3.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,841MX$48.8K
$4,434R 71.7K
-35.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.93MX$462
$50.7R 820
-46.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.06MX$550
$32.37R 523
-0.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.6MX$1,383
$86.6R 1,399
-6.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.12MX$774
$79.2R 1,280
-43.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.2K
$275R 4,446
159.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391MX$6,713
$254R 4,105
54.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,442MX$24.8K
$697R 11.3K
106.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216MX$20.9K
$577R 9,320
110.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,272MX$56.2K
$893R 14.4K
266.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,899MX$32.6K
$705R 11.4K
169.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$783MX$13.4K
$644R 10.4K
21.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
11.51
-4.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tulum: June 9, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $712 in Tulum and $275 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tulum pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Tulum vs $33.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $188 per month, with Kempton Park cheaper across the board.
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
Tulum vs Kempton Park: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tulum or Kempton Park?
Kempton Park wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Tulum. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kempton Park the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tulum or Kempton Park?
Tulum pays 22% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tulum vs Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $712 in Tulum versus $275 in Kempton Park. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tulum and Kempton Park?
Childcare runs $203 in Tulum versus $211 in Kempton Park. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tulum vs Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $50.0 in Tulum. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tulum or Kempton Park?
At $999 in Kempton Park versus $1,061 in Tulum, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kempton Park but tight or insufficient in Tulum. The gap between the two cities makes Kempton Park the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Tulum or Kempton Park?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Tulum compared to Kempton Park?
Safety-wise, Tulum and Kempton Park are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kempton Park gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Tulum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.