Cost of Living in Tulum, Mexico

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Tulum costs approximately $1,450 per month for one person including rent. That is 10% below the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $951, Tulum is on the more expensive side for Latin America & Caribbean. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $784 per month, or $757 outside the centre. Housing therefore accounts for about 52% of a single person's total monthly cost here. A family of four should budget around $2,511 per month excluding rent. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $10.16. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 46 Mbps and Tulum scores 52/100 on safety (moderately safe). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Tulum is a city in Mexico, where a single person can expect to spend about $1,450 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $784 per month, or $757 outside the centre. Internet is workable at around 46 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Tulum scores 52/100 — moderately safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 92°F and winter highs around 84°F, with roughly 288 sunny days a year.

Top for Party BeachTop for Yoga WellnessLGBTQ+ friendlyFamily friendly

Monthly Cost$1,450≈ $48/day

1BR Rent (Centre)$784

Internet46 Mbps

Safety52/100

Avg Temp88°F

Tulum Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$10.16

Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$55.33

McDonald's Combo Meal$7.57

Cappuccino$3.84

Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$2.96

Bottled Water (Restaurant)$1.36

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.62

Bread (1 lb Loaf)$1.16

Eggs (12)$2.11

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$3.61

Apples (1 lb)$1.06

Bananas (1 lb)$0.73

Tomatoes (1 lb)$0.69

Potatoes (1 lb)$1

Water (1.5L Bottle)$1.05

Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$8.74

Cigarettes (Marlboro)$4.69

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$1.25

Taxi Start$2.33

Taxi (1 Mile)$4.19

Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.47

VW Golf (New)$22,538.73

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$93.01

Mobile Phone Plan$17.47

Broadband Internet$35.46

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$36.40

Cinema Ticket$5.97

Preschool (Monthly)$285.38

Intl. Primary School (Annual)$3,145.02

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$29.12

Nike Running Shoes$87.36

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$784.07

Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$757.13

Rent 3BR (City Centre)$1,601.63

Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$1,358.96

Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$311.12

Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$175.85

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$786.26

Mortgage Interest Rate10.8%

Family of 4 (Monthly, excl. rent)$2,511.40

Single Person (Monthly, excl. rent)$693.20

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Tulum

Internet46 Mbps

Safety52/100

Healthcare35/100

Public Transit10/100

Walkability42/100

Nightlife72/100

Food Scene75/100

Fine Dining0/100

Coffee Culture38/100

Air Quality82/100

Green Spaces68/100

Culture72/100

Beaches92/100

Hiking15/100

Surfing15/100

Coworking Spaces30

US Visa-Free180 days

How Tulum Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Tulum is cheaper than 54% of them, but sits in the bottom 7% for healthcare.

Metric	Tulum	World rank	Rank in Latin America & Caribbean
Monthly cost	$1,450	#154 of 340	#55 of 63
Safety	52/100	#230 of 340	#21 of 63
Healthcare	35/100	#320 of 340	#53 of 63
Internet speed	46 Mbps	#298 of 340	#54 of 63
Walkability	42/100	#243 of 340	#46 of 63
Public transit	10/100	#308 of 340	#55 of 63
Food scene	75/100	#156 of 340	#19 of 63
Air quality	82/100	#161 of 340	#23 of 63

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Tulum

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Tulum.

Pipa, Brazil — $720/mo, 50% cheaper, safety 48/100
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — $1,060/mo, 27% cheaper, safety 52/100
Tamarindo, Costa Rica — $1,100/mo, 24% cheaper, safety 58/100
Florianopolis, Brazil — $1,047/mo, 28% cheaper, safety 50/100 · Compare with Tulum

Tulum FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Tulum?

A single person should budget around $1,450 per month in Tulum, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $2,511 per month excluding rent.

How much is rent in Tulum?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Tulum averages $784 per month, dropping to about $757 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $1,602.

Is Tulum safe?

Tulum scores 52/100 on safety, which is moderately safe. Tourist safety is rated 58/100.

How fast is the internet in Tulum?

Median download speeds in Tulum are around 46 Mbps — workable for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 30 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Mexico offer a digital nomad visa?

Mexico does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 180 days visa-free.

What is the weather like in Tulum?

Tulum sees summer highs around 92°F and winter highs near 84°F, with about 288 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 65 days.