😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Tulum versus $1,255 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,231 in Tulum versus $1,949 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,165 in Tulum versus $2,643 in Kempton Park.
🌍Living in Tulum is roughly 3% more expensive than in Kempton Park, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tulum5% lower, Kempton Park8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.78MX$151
$9.49R 156
-7.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1MX$1,018
$38.75R 635
52.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.60MX$148
$6.18R 101
39.16%
Cappuccino
$4.26MX$73.4
$2.59R 42.45
64.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.75
$1.12R 18.32
2.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22MX$21.06
$0.93R 15.22
31.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94MX$50.6
$2.54R 41.65
15.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83MX$66.0
$2.84R 46.51
34.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.35R 22.13
27.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10MX$36.13
$1.18R 19.28
77.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.67
$1.88R 30.80
0.53%
Eggs
$1.99MX$34.27
$2.61R 42.77
-23.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.76MX$99.3
$8.57R 140
-32.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.13MX$140
$5.16R 84.5
57.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.34MX$161
$8.88R 146
5.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69MX$46.36
$1.91R 31.32
40.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.64
$1.79R 29.31
-13.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.00
$1.85R 30.38
-15.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MX$27.27
$2.01R 33.00
-21.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47MX$42.55
$1.83R 30.00
34.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.46
$1.75R 28.68
10.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$27.36
$1.27R 20.80
25.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87MX$15.06
$1.36R 22.34
-36.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68MX$80.8
$3.44R 56.3
36.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49MX$146
$5.71R 93.5
48.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41MX$24.23
$1.71R 27.98
-17.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41MX$24.34
$2.47R 40.53
-42.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48MX$25.60
$1.53R 24.98
-3.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$61.7R 1,011
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.99MX$51.5
$0.30R 4.86
896.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.57MX$44.33
$0.79R 12.94
225.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.68MX$98.0
$15.19R 249
-62.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48MX$25.59
$1.56R 25.62
-5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.6K
$36.9KR 603.9K
-39.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$446.7K
$33.4KR 546.3K
-22.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112MX$1,923
$191R 3,124
-41.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.38MX$300
$39.48R 647
-55.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73MX$633
$38.45R 630
-4.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.93MX$620
$39.55R 648
-9.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.55R 205
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.83MX$118
$8.25R 135
-17.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268MX$4,613
$269R 4,403
-0.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,142MX$54.2K
$5,670R 92.9K
-44.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.00MX$759
$54.3R 889
-18.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66MX$598
$32.69R 535
6.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,744
$94.3R 1,545
7.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.6MX$1,062
$86.0R 1,408
-28.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$651MX$11.2K
$315R 5,167
106.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$566MX$9,753
$375R 6,148
50.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,609MX$27.7K
$763R 12.5K
110.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,352MX$23.3K
$787R 12.9K
71.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,409MX$58.8K
$898R 14.7K
279.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,872MX$32.3K
$694R 11.4K
169.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$852MX$14.7K
$667R 10.9K
27.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.8
11.25
-4.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tulum: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $651 in Tulum and $315 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tulum pays 28% 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: $59.0 in Tulum vs $39.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $215 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 3% 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 in Kempton Park?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Tulum, 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 compared to Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $651 in Tulum versus $315 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 in Kempton Park?
Childcare runs $268 in Tulum versus $269 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 and in Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $59.0 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 in Kempton Park?
At $1,255 in Kempton Park versus $1,297 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 3% less than in Tulum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.