Playa del Carmen vs Tokyo: cost of living for digital nomads

Playa del Carmen, Mexico and Tokyo, Japan, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Playa del Carmen is about 40% cheaper than Tokyo for a month of nomad living ($1,670 vs $2,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $820 in Playa del Carmen against $1,300 in Tokyo.
  • Tokyo scores higher on safety (10/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Tokyo: 230 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Playa del Carmen is tropical; Tokyo is temperate.

Playa del Carmen wins 6 of the measured lines; Tokyo wins 2.

LinePlaya del CarmenTokyo
Monthly total (USD)$1,670$2,800
Rent$820$1,300
Food$430$650
Transport$50$120
Coworking$130$200
Safety (out of 10)7/1010/10
Internet (Mbps)80230
Climatetropicaltemperate
City sizemidmetro
Settingcoastcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/107/10

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.