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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in Tunja vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,062 per month in Tunja vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,413 per month in Tunja vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Tunja is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tunja and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tunja 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.68 COP 9,353

$11.87 MX$204

-77.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.38 COP 50.2K

$42.90 MX$736

-66.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 COP 23.4K

$10.65 MX$183

-37.00%

Cappuccino

$1.07 COP 3,731

$3.45 MX$59.2

-68.99%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,588

$1.50 MX$25.81

-50.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 1,937

$0.95 MX$16.28

-41.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 4,151

$3.03 MX$51.9

-60.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 COP 7,356

$4.61 MX$79.1

-54.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 COP 4,239

$1.38 MX$23.61

-12.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 COP 3,698

$1.85 MX$31.70

-42.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,185

$1.61 MX$27.65

-25.47%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,595

$2.59 MX$44.51

-15.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.24 COP 14.8K

$8.26 MX$142

-48.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 COP 19.8K

$8.37 MX$144

-32.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 COP 25.3K

$10.66 MX$183

-32.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 COP 8,667

$2.63 MX$45.12

-5.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,124

$1.49 MX$25.53

-20.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 COP 2,959

$1.92 MX$32.94

-55.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 COP 3,219

$2.09 MX$35.81

-55.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,154

$1.86 MX$31.88

-36.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 COP 3,292

$2.26 MX$38.81

-58.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 COP 3,312

$1.06 MX$18.23

-10.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,586

$1.09 MX$18.67

-32.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.66 COP 5,797

$4.15 MX$71.2

-60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.41 COP 29.4K

$10.39 MX$178

-19.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,889

$1.72 MX$29.59

-51.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 5,447

$2.61 MX$44.85

-40.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 COP 1,768

$0.54 MX$9.30

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 COP 2,312

$3.13 MX$53.7

-78.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 COP 5,421

$2.51 MX$43.09

-38.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.15 MX$54.1

88.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 COP 3,230

$1.27 MX$21.88

-26.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.2K COP 66.9M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-36.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K COP 97.6M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

18.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.1 COP 265.7K

$83.0 MX$1,425

-8.29%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.86 COP 30.9K

$22.71 MX$390

-60.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.41 COP 71.2K

$29.46 MX$506

-30.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.80 COP 58.6K

$51.0 MX$875

-67.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$3.81 COP 13.3K

$4.93 MX$84.5

-22.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$242 COP 844.3K

$197 MX$3,386

22.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,419 COP 8.4M

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-54.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 COP 222.2K

$36.90 MX$633

72.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.19 COP 115.8K

$39.89 MX$685

-16.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 COP 292.3K

$80.0 MX$1,373

4.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.53 COP 131.0K

$89.5 MX$1,536

-58.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 COP 998.0K

$956 MX$16.4K

-70.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 COP 801.8K

$477 MX$8,189

-51.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 COP 1.8M

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-68.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 COP 1.5M

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-65.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

11.42

33.54%

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

Last update for Tunja: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Tunja versus $956 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 $14.00 in Tunja versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $250 – making Tunja 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

Tunja vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,066 per month in Tunja and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tunja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $711 in Tunja and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $242 per month in Tunja and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tunja, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Tunja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tunja – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tunja. 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.