Tulum Workers Earn Less Despite High Living Costs

Tulum, Quintana Roo — In Tulum, one of Mexico’s most expensive and sought-after tourist destinations, workers in the hotel and restaurant sectors earn significantly less than their counterparts in other areas of the Riviera Maya. The disparity is not due to employer decisions but rather the federal government’s classification of the municipality within the "southern wage zone," which mandates a lower legal minimum wage than neighboring regions like Playa del Carmen or Cancún.

A Deep-Rooted Wage Disparity

According to Mexico’s National Minimum Wage Commission (CONASAMI), the country is divided into wage zones. In Quintana Roo, the southern zone spans from Chetumal to Tulum, while the northern zone covers Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) to Cancún. This zoning has created profound economic inequality.

Claudio Cortés Méndez, commissioner of the CROC labor union in Tulum, explained: "In the southern zone, the minimum wage is 278 pesos, while in the northern zone, it’s 419 pesos. The difference is substantial. A waiter in the northern zone performs the same job as a waiter in the southern zone but earns significantly more."

This means a housekeeper, cook, or bartender in Tulum earns up to 141 pesos less per day than someone with identical responsibilities in Playa del Carmen or Cancún—solely due to geographic wage classification. Over a week, the gap exceeds 800 pesos. Monthly, it amounts to more than 3,500 pesos in lost income.

The High Cost of Survival in Tulum

The issue is exacerbated by Tulum’s exorbitant living costs. Supermarket and market prices are steep, public transportation is limited, and rental rates rarely fall below 3,500 to 4,000 pesos per room.

Cortés Méndez added, "Most people living in Tulum come from elsewhere. They have to pay rent, and a room doesn’t cost less than 3,500 to 4,000 pesos monthly. This forces them to share spaces with two, three, or more people."

Beyond long work hours and minimal wages, most employees also lack full benefits. Many are hired seasonally, through subcontractors, or without formal registration in Mexico’s social security system (IMSS), depriving them of basic services like healthcare or retirement funds.

"The most basic departments in every hotel—waiters, bartenders, housekeepers—all earn minimum wages," reiterated the CROC representative.

A Tourism Model Built on Inequality

Tulum’s tourism model, built on high prices and an image of exclusivity, contrasts sharply with the reality for those sustaining it. The federal wage zoning system has not been updated in years, failing to account for the municipality’s explosive growth and skyrocketing costs over the past decade.

For workers, this is not just a statistic—it’s the difference between living with dignity or sharing cramped quarters, borrowing to make ends meet, and resigning themselves to the fact that the paradise where they work will never be affordable for them.