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: $1,488 in Changwon versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,294 in Changwon versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,100 in Changwon versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Changwon is roughly 18% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Changwon is 11% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 ₩10.7K

$11.99 MX$210

-39.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.38 ₩40.7K

$41.78 MX$733

-34.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ₩7,717

$10.75 MX$189

-51.72%

Cappuccino

$3.64 ₩5,416

$3.50 MX$61.3

4.00%

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

$1.81 ₩2,694

$1.45 MX$25.41

24.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,405

$0.88 MX$15.52

6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₩4,396

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 ₩6,100

$4.51 MX$79.1

-9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 ₩3,402

$1.43 MX$25.12

60.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 ₩5,350

$1.84 MX$32.23

95.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,491

$1.57 MX$27.51

92.36%

Eggs

$2.90 ₩4,318

$2.51 MX$44.06

15.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 ₩15.5K

$8.28 MX$145

25.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.31 ₩12.4K

$8.43 MX$148

-1.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.40 ₩40.8K

$10.68 MX$187

156.55%

Apples (1kg)

$8.34 ₩12.4K

$2.61 MX$45.76

219.54%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 ₩4,668

$1.44 MX$25.22

118.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.45 ₩11.1K

$1.96 MX$34.41

280.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 ₩7,855

$2.09 MX$36.74

152.63%

Potato (1kg)

$5.15 ₩7,666

$1.85 MX$32.47

178.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₩4,415

$2.17 MX$38.02

36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 ₩3,107

$1.03 MX$18.09

102.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,728

$1.07 MX$18.84

8.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₩4,959

$4.10 MX$72.0

-18.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.43 ₩24.5K

$10.17 MX$178

61.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₩2,623

$1.68 MX$29.38

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ₩5,006

$2.53 MX$44.31

32.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₩1,550

$0.51 MX$8.93

103.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ₩4,043

$3.23 MX$56.7

-15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,245

$2.41 MX$42.19

-65.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.69 ₩24.8K

$3.23 MX$56.6

416.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,722

$1.32 MX$23.17

-12.12%

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

$27.9K ₩41.5M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-6.19%

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

$25.3K ₩37.7M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

7.09%

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

$191 ₩284.8K

$82.0 MX$1,439

133.41%

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

$50.4 ₩75.0K

$22.95 MX$403

119.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩40.5K

$30.11 MX$528

-9.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 ₩77.8K

$52.0 MX$912

0.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 ₩16.6K

$4.98 MX$87.3

124.70%

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

$486 ₩723.0K

$197 MX$3,463

146.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₩20.9M

$5,336 MX$93.6K

163.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩150.6K

$35.60 MX$624

184.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.73 ₩69.5K

$40.33 MX$707

15.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 ₩133.0K

$78.8 MX$1,381

13.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₩177.9K

$88.9 MX$1,560

34.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ₩687.1K

$947 MX$16.6K

-51.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₩562.4K

$474 MX$8,314

-20.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 ₩1.6M

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-35.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₩1.1M

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-36.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,499 ₩2.2M

$654 MX$11.5K

129.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

11.42

-63.05%

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

Last update for Changwon: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $462 in Changwon and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Changwon pays 129% 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: $27.00 in Changwon vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $446 vs $249, 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 18% in total monthly costs ($1,488 vs $1,256 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 129% higher in Changwon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $462 in Changwon versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Changwon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,488 per month in Changwon versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,488 in Changwon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Changwon. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Changwon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.