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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in Tunis vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Tunis vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in Tunis vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tunis is about 40% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tunis and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tunis 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15 TND 15.20
$11.72 MX$204
-56.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.81 TND 76.2
$41.89 MX$731
-38.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 TND 14.67
$10.51 MX$183
-52.71%
Cappuccino
$1.03 TND 3.04
$3.59 MX$62.5
-71.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 TND 2.12
$1.51 MX$26.31
-52.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.76
$0.92 MX$15.96
-71.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 TND 5.06
$2.96 MX$51.6
-42.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 TND 8.04
$4.41 MX$76.9
-38.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.46 TND 1.37
$1.40 MX$24.35
-67.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 TND 0.61
$1.88 MX$32.87
-88.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 TND 5.14
$1.56 MX$27.19
11.54%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.57
$2.61 MX$45.50
-40.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 TND 31.02
$8.32 MX$145
26.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.08 TND 17.94
$8.35 MX$146
-27.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 TND 43.31
$10.86 MX$189
35.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 TND 6.12
$2.71 MX$47.31
-23.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.70 TND 10.92
$1.51 MX$26.25
145.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 TND 3.43
$1.87 MX$32.67
-37.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.06
$2.19 MX$38.19
-68.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.25
$1.86 MX$32.40
-59.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.89
$2.23 MX$38.90
-71.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.27
$1.07 MX$18.63
-59.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$1.09 MX$18.94
-71.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 TND 9.81
$4.19 MX$73.0
-20.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.56 TND 19.36
$10.43 MX$182
-37.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 TND 3.94
$1.66 MX$28.91
-19.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 TND 4.63
$2.61 MX$45.56
-39.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$0.54 MX$9.45
-38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.05 TND 41.45
$26.16 MX$456
-46.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.88
$3.08 MX$53.7
-90.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$2.40 MX$41.94
-87.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 TND 10.23
$3.13 MX$54.5
10.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.44
$1.31 MX$22.87
-36.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K TND 119.9K
$29.8K MX$519.9K
36.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K TND 110.1K
$23.3K MX$406.8K
59.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.9 TND 174
$81.3 MX$1,418
-27.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 TND 29.61
$22.56 MX$393
-55.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.43 TND 63.2
$30.05 MX$524
-28.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.06 TND 101
$52.9 MX$923
-35.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.23 TND 41.98
$18.39 MX$321
-22.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50 TND 16.22
$4.92 MX$85.8
11.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 TND 331
$201 MX$3,502
-44.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,306 TND 9,755
$5,175 MX$90.2K
-36.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.17 TND 133
$35.92 MX$627
25.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2 TND 178
$40.13 MX$700
50.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 TND 286
$79.7 MX$1,390
21.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0 TND 236
$86.5 MX$1,508
-7.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 TND 821
$978 MX$17.1K
-71.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 TND 513
$470 MX$8,206
-63.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 TND 1,450
$1,651 MX$28.8K
-70.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 TND 861
$1,203 MX$21.0K
-75.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,517 TND 4,475
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-61.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$784 TND 2,314
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-88.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$359 TND 1,061
$677 MX$11.8K
-46.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.96
11.42
-4.03%

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

Last update for Tunis: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Tunis versus $978 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.

Salaries run about 88% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Tunis versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $252 – making Tunis 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
Tunis vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tunis?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,130 per month in Tunis and $1,890 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 Tunis, 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 Tunis and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $753 in Tunis and $1,260 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 86% less in Tunis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tunis or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tunis, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Tunis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tunis or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tunis – 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 Tunis. 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.

Tunis vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities