😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,375 in Brunswick, GA versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in Brunswick, GA versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,431 in Brunswick, GA versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Brunswick, GA is roughly 87% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brunswick, GA is 77% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.05$20.05
$11.87MX$204
68.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9$74.9
$42.90MX$736
74.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.95$9.95
$10.65MX$183
-6.57%
Cappuccino
$5.75$5.75
$3.45MX$59.2
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14$2.14
$1.50MX$25.81
42.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$0.95MX$16.28
92.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.79$4.79
$3.03MX$51.9
58.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88$5.88
$4.61MX$79.1
27.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.38MX$23.61
-27.54%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12$3.12
$1.85MX$31.70
68.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59$2.59
$1.61MX$27.65
60.87%
Eggs
$4.64$4.64
$2.59MX$44.51
79.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.53$10.53
$8.26MX$142
27.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.84$11.84
$8.37MX$144
41.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14$12.14
$10.66MX$183
13.88%
Apples(1kg)
$5.79$5.79
$2.63MX$45.12
120.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80$1.80
$1.49MX$25.53
20.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$1.92MX$32.94
131.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.30$3.30
$2.09MX$35.81
57.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47$2.47
$1.86MX$31.88
32.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.52$2.52
$2.26MX$38.81
11.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39$1.39
$1.06MX$18.23
31.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.09MX$18.67
55.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50$8.50
$4.15MX$71.2
104.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.84$19.84
$10.39MX$178
90.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.72MX$29.59
19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79$2.79
$2.61MX$44.85
6.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.54MX$9.30
279.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52$3.52
$3.13MX$53.7
12.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91$1.91
$2.51MX$43.09
-23.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.66$40.66
$3.15MX$54.1
1190.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.27MX$21.88
-39.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K$24.6K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-18.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
2.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159$159
$83.0MX$1,425
91.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.2$58.2
$22.71MX$390
156.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.0$82.0
$29.46MX$506
178.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.1$57.1
$51.0MX$875
11.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.67$24.67
$18.33MX$315
34.59%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36$13.36
$4.93MX$84.5
170.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$602$602
$197MX$3,386
205.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4K$18.4K
$5,280MX$90.6K
249.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.21$48.21
$36.90MX$633
30.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9$51.9
$39.89MX$685
30.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.4$81.4
$80.0MX$1,373
1.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0$74.0
$89.5MX$1,536
-17.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,454$1,454
$956MX$16.4K
52.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,197$1,197
$477MX$8,189
150.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,555$2,555
$1,646MX$28.3K
55.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,755$1,755
$1,225MX$21.0K
43.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,293$4,293
$3,918MX$67.2K
9.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,132$3,132
$6,459MX$110.9K
-51.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brunswick, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,131$3,131
$667MX$11.4K
369.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.63
11.42
-41.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brunswick, GA: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,454 in Brunswick, GA and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brunswick, GA pays 369% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Brunswick, GA vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $250 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Brunswick, GA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brunswick, GA and Playa del Carmen?
Brunswick, GA and Playa del Carmen differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,375 vs $1,271 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brunswick, GA or Playa del Carmen?
Brunswick, GA pays 369% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Brunswick, GA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,454 in Brunswick, GA versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Brunswick, GA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brunswick, GA or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,375 per month in Brunswick, GA versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,375 in Brunswick, GA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Brunswick, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brunswick, GA and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Brunswick, GA or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Brunswick, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Brunswick, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared