Renting an apartment in Tulum beats a hotel from the second night on: you get a kitchen, a washing machine, two bedrooms and one price for the whole place instead of a price per head. This page covers what it actually costs, which area to pick, and how to book without paying platform fees.
The apartment behind this page is Hacienda Tuk: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a pool in downtown Tulum (Tulum Pueblo), sleeping up to 3 guests. You book it directly on WhatsApp at +52 984 451 0480.
How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Tulum?
A two-bedroom apartment in downtown Tulum runs around 115 USD per night on average. That is the rate this same apartment is listed at on Vrbo, checked on 28 August 2026 on its own listing (vrbo.com/5213903). Booking direct with the host skips the platform commission, so the final rate comes down from there.
Three things move the price in Tulum, and they are worth knowing before you compare:
- Season. December, Easter week and July-August are the expensive months. September and October are the cheapest of the year, and they are also the rainiest.
- Length of stay. Past one week the nightly rate drops; by the month it drops a lot more.
- Area. The Tulum hotel zone is by far the most expensive. Downtown costs a fraction of that for the same size of apartment.
The exact rate for specific dates comes from the host the same day. There is no single published price that holds all year, and anyone showing you one is showing you the low season.
Which area of Tulum should you rent in?
For a short stay, downtown Tulum (Tulum Pueblo) is the practical choice: supermarket, pharmacy, ATMs, local kitchens, coffee shops and the ADO bus terminal are all within walking distance. You eat for a fraction of what the coast charges and you are not dependent on a taxi for every move.
- Downtown (Tulum Pueblo) — the most convenient and the best value. Everything on foot. The beach is 10-15 minutes away by car or bike.
- La Veleta — the favourite for people staying months. Quieter, good fibre in much of it, lower long-stay rates. You will want a bike.
- Aldea Zama — pricier and more touristy, halfway between town and the beach.
- Hotel zone — beach on your doorstep and the most expensive of all, for both rent and food. Leaving it means a taxi.
One detail that catches almost everyone out: there is no Uber or Didi in Tulum. People use InDrive, taxis, or the colectivo vans that leave next to the Super AKI. That makes real walking distance matter far more than it looks on a map.
What does renting Hacienda Tuk include?
Hacienda Tuk is 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 3 beds, for a maximum of 3 guests. It sits on Avenida Cobá in downtown Tulum, a 5-minute walk from the main avenue and about 10 minutes by bike from the Mayan ruins.
- Full kitchen, air conditioning and a private balcony
- High-speed Wi-Fi, stable enough for video calls
- Shared pool and a rooftop with a view
- Free access to La Embajada Universal beach club, out in the hotel zone
- Direct booking with the host, no platform commission
The beach club access is what fixes the one downside of staying downtown: you sleep where living costs less and still get your beach day without paying an entrance fee.
How do you rent it, step by step?
Booking direct takes one message. There is no long form and no automated checkout screen:
- Message WhatsApp at +52 984 451 0480 with your arrival and departure dates.
- The host confirms whether those nights are open and sends the rate for that exact stretch.
- You agree on the payment and the deposit, and it all stays written in the same chat.
- You get the exact address and the check-in time.
- On arrival day the host opens the door, not a front desk.
That chat is your receipt. If your flight lands at 2am or a date moves, you sort it out with the person holding the keys rather than a call centre.
By the night, by the week or by the month?
It depends what you came for. For a 4 to 7 night holiday, nightly is normal. If you are staying a month or more, ask for the monthly rate in your first message: the difference is big enough to be worth saying up front.
Tulum is one of the most popular digital-nomad bases in Mexico, and a furnished monthly apartment rental is the usual format for those stays. If you work online, the question to ask is not the price but the upload speed.
Apartment or hotel in Tulum?
A two-bedroom apartment costs less than two hotel rooms of the same standard and throws in a kitchen, a living room and a washing machine. For three people or a small family the maths answers itself. For a single night, a hotel is simpler.
The real difference is not the nightly rate, it is food. With a kitchen you have breakfast and dinner at home and go out when you feel like it. In a town where one dinner on the coast costs what three cost in the village, that outweighs a ten-dollar gap per night.
What do you need to book?
Your dates and a deposit agreed over WhatsApp. Payment details, deposit and check-in time are agreed in the chat with the host before anything is confirmed, and stay in writing right there.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Tulum?
A two-bedroom apartment in downtown Tulum runs around 115 USD per night on average; that is the rate Hacienda Tuk is listed at on Vrbo, checked on 28 August 2026. Booking direct with the host skips the platform commission. The rate moves with the season and the length of stay, and is confirmed the same day on WhatsApp at +52 984 451 0480.
Which is the best area to rent in Tulum?
For a short stay, downtown Tulum (Tulum Pueblo) is the most convenient and the best value: supermarket, pharmacy, ATMs, cafés and the ADO terminal are all walkable. La Veleta works better for stays of several months. The hotel zone is the most expensive, for both rent and food.
Can you rent an apartment in Tulum by the month?
Yes. For stays of several weeks or months the nightly rate drops noticeably. Mention how long you are staying in your first message so the host can send the monthly price straight away.
Is booking direct with the host cheaper?
Yes, because there is no platform commission. Hacienda Tuk is booked on WhatsApp at +52 984 451 0480: the host confirms availability, the rate and the payment terms, and it all stays written in the same chat.
What does the apartment include?
Hacienda Tuk has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 3 beds for up to 3 guests, with a full kitchen, air conditioning, a private balcony, high-speed Wi-Fi, a shared pool, a rooftop and free access to La Embajada Universal beach club.
Is there Uber in Tulum?
No. Neither Uber nor Didi operate in Tulum. People use InDrive, taxis or the colectivo vans that leave next to the Super AKI, which is a good reason to rent downtown where most things are walkable.