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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Gabes vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $908 per month in Gabes vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,234 per month in Gabes vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gabes is about 56% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gabes and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Gabes 58% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 TND 7.97

$13.02 MX$221

-78.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 TND 54.3

$46.25 MX$784

-59.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.52 TND 10.17

$12.59 MX$213

-72.04%

Cappuccino

$0.78 TND 2.27

$4.00 MX$67.9

-80.50%

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

$0.74 TND 2.15

$1.42 MX$24.08

-47.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 TND 0.78

$0.81 MX$13.73

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 TND 3.37

$3.05 MX$51.7

-61.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 TND 4.56

$6.82 MX$116

-76.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.46 TND 1.32

$1.71 MX$29.04

-73.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.22 TND 0.63

$2.22 MX$37.62

-90.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 TND 3.69

$1.72 MX$29.13

-26.16%

Eggs

$1.64 TND 4.74

$2.71 MX$45.99

-39.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.65 TND 36.59

$9.37 MX$159

35.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 TND 16.72

$8.86 MX$150

-34.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 TND 41.17

$12.78 MX$217

11.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 TND 5.57

$3.13 MX$53.0

-38.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 TND 8.60

$1.55 MX$26.24

91.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 TND 2.75

$2.15 MX$36.51

-55.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 TND 2.06

$2.35 MX$39.89

-69.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 TND 2.41

$2.02 MX$34.23

-58.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 TND 1.67

$1.99 MX$33.67

-70.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 TND 1.03

$1.24 MX$21.09

-70.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 TND 0.85

$1.19 MX$20.21

-75.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 TND 9.59

$4.65 MX$78.8

-28.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.45 TND 9.97

$10.47 MX$177

-67.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TND 2.17

$1.58 MX$26.83

-52.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TND 2.36

$2.92 MX$49.48

-71.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 TND 0.51

$0.56 MX$9.53

-67.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.77 TND 19.58

$29.76 MX$504

-77.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.30 TND 0.86

$5.32 MX$90.2

-94.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 TND 0.59

$3.72 MX$63.0

-94.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 TND 11.50

$5.78 MX$97.9

-31.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 TND 2.45

$1.55 MX$26.28

-45.16%

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

$39.7K TND 114.9K

$22.4K MX$379.1K

77.62%

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

$29.3K TND 84.9K

$25.6K MX$433.4K

14.76%

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

$68.9 TND 199

$89.3 MX$1,513

-22.79%

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

$7.58 TND 21.92

$23.30 MX$395

-67.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 TND 48.73

$31.72 MX$538

-46.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.03 TND 92.6

$68.8 MX$1,165

-53.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.65 TND 13.46

$29.40 MX$498

-84.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 TND 19.05

$5.06 MX$85.7

30.24%

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

$58.6 TND 169

$222 MX$3,765

-73.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,083 TND 8,915

$4,293 MX$72.8K

-28.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.11 TND 92.9

$46.21 MX$783

-30.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.45 TND 120

$44.43 MX$753

-6.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.4 TND 221

$95.5 MX$1,618

-20.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 TND 313

$92.5 MX$1,568

16.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 TND 329

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-89.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.0 TND 208

$393 MX$6,664

-81.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TND 583

$1,988 MX$33.7K

-89.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 TND 340

$1,304 MX$22.1K

-90.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$968 TND 2,799

$4,037 MX$68.4K

-76.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$622 TND 1,798

$6,627 MX$112.3K

-90.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$424 TND 1,226

$747 MX$12.7K

-43.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

3.45%

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

Last update for Gabes: August 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Gabes versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Gabes versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $277 – making Gabes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $872 per month in Gabes and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gabes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $58.6 per month in Gabes and $222 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Gabes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gabes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Gabes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.