😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,046 in Tulum versus $1,014 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,936 in Tulum versus $1,579 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,827 in Tulum versus $2,145 in Kempton Park.
😐Living in Tulum is roughly 3% more expensive than Kempton Park, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tulum22% lower, Kempton Park24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.40MX$182
$8.31R 139
25.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.2MX$897
$33.84R 568
51.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16MX$143
$4.77R 80.0
71.07%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.7
$2.18R 36.63
69.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$21.21
$1.04R 17.43
16.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.37
$0.82R 13.80
35.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76MX$48.32
$2.19R 36.72
26.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98MX$69.6
$2.59R 43.37
53.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.08
$1.24R 20.87
15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18MX$20.72
$1.06R 17.75
11.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MX$27.02
$1.66R 27.86
-7.23%
Eggs
$1.99MX$34.77
$2.37R 39.77
-16.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.44MX$95.2
$7.62R 128
-28.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.00MX$123
$4.69R 78.6
49.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.52MX$114
$6.63R 111
-1.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.85
$1.71R 28.64
26.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MX$24.85
$1.53R 25.67
-7.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40MX$24.48
$1.60R 26.90
-12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36MX$23.86
$1.64R 27.54
-17.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.07
$1.46R 24.43
49.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95MX$34.14
$1.44R 24.07
35.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.83
$1.09R 18.28
-0.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00MX$17.43
$1.12R 18.71
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28MX$74.8
$3.02R 50.6
41.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.79MX$154
$5.47R 91.8
60.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31MX$22.95
$1.50R 25.16
-12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30MX$22.69
$1.85R 31.07
-29.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11MX$19.47
$1.36R 22.81
-18.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$56.6R 948
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$36.09
$1.09R 18.26
88.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23MX$39.06
$0.94R 15.84
137.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.16MX$90.2
$4.15R 69.6
24.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.79
$1.32R 22.17
-1.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8KMX$276.4K
$22.4KR 375.9K
-29.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KMX$371.3K
$24.4KR 408.6K
-12.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.2MX$1,474
$124R 2,082
-32.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.28MX$390
$41.01R 688
-45.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.45MX$515
$42.95R 720
-31.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.29MX$583
$25.75R 432
29.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.80MX$277
$5.57R 93.4
183.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65MX$81.5
$7.35R 123
-36.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204MX$3,564
$206R 3,451
-1.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,835MX$49.6K
$4,431R 74.3K
-36.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.94MX$454
$50.7R 850
-48.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.52MX$552
$32.58R 546
-3.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.8MX$1,414
$88.4R 1,482
-8.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.62MX$798
$78.0R 1,307
-41.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$699MX$12.2K
$279R 4,676
150.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397MX$6,945
$255R 4,283
55.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,432MX$25.1K
$693R 11.6K
106.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$22.0K
$563R 9,437
123.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,268MX$57.2K
$810R 13.6K
303.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,855MX$32.5K
$688R 11.5K
169.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulum
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$781MX$13.7K
$642R 10.8K
21.53%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $699 in Tulum and $279 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: $51.0 in Tulum vs $34.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $185 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 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: $699 in Tulum versus $279 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 $204 in Tulum versus $206 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 $34.00 versus $51.0 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 $1,014 in Kempton Park versus $1,046 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.