Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,792 in Changwon versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Changwon versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Changwon costs roughly 10% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changwon 15% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩9,808

$11.96 MX$203

-38.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 ₩36.7K

$47.38 MX$804

-42.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,169

$11.75 MX$199

-54.47%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,831

$4.12 MX$70.0

-12.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₩2,423

$1.40 MX$23.74

29.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,256

$0.91 MX$15.48

3.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₩3,902

$3.21 MX$54.4

-9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,847

$7.07 MX$120

-38.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,091

$1.68 MX$28.44

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,191

$2.15 MX$36.48

45.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,228

$1.77 MX$30.10

77.97%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,489

$2.82 MX$47.76

-7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

$9.20 MX$156

20.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

$9.23 MX$157

13.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.67 ₩33.1K

$12.64 MX$214

95.17%

Apples (1kg)

$11.29 ₩15.1K

$2.95 MX$50.1

282.71%

Banana (1kg)

$3.67 ₩4,926

$1.58 MX$26.79

132.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 ₩10.5K

$2.22 MX$37.70

252.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,897

$2.36 MX$40.09

149.58%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,898

$1.99 MX$33.81

195.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,390

$1.98 MX$33.58

65.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 ₩3,818

$1.24 MX$21.04

129.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,788

$1.21 MX$20.55

9.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩4,560

$4.60 MX$78.1

-26.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 ₩25.3K

$10.52 MX$178

79.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,141

$1.69 MX$28.70

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ₩4,688

$2.77 MX$47.06

26.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₩3,920

$5.24 MX$88.8

-44.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,023

$3.65 MX$61.9

-79.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

$5.78 MX$98.1

193.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,771

$1.54 MX$26.09

-14.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$22.8K MX$386.8K

29.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K ₩44.9M

$25.8K MX$437.9K

29.79%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$198 ₩265.3K

$90.7 MX$1,538

118.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.58 ₩47.7K

$25.19 MX$427

41.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 ₩36.2K

$31.75 MX$539

-15.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

$68.8 MX$1,167

-23.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩14.8K

$4.86 MX$82.5

126.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$630 ₩844.5K

$226 MX$3,828

179.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$4,194 MX$71.1K

424.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩141.6K

$47.38 MX$804

122.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 ₩87.7K

$43.45 MX$737

50.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ₩124.7K

$80.2 MX$1,361

15.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩168.9K

$91.4 MX$1,550

37.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,661 ₩2.2M

$773 MX$13.1K

114.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

11.45

-63.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Changwon pays 115% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Changwon vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $484 vs $278, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

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

Changwon vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changwon and Playa del Carmen differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($1,175 vs $1,305 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 115% higher in Changwon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 74% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,175 per month in Changwon versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Changwon and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.