🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $398 in Gaighat versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $650 in Gaighat versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $902 in Gaighat versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Gaighat costs roughly 68% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gaighat70% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.84NPR 283
$11.99MX$210
-84.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.05NPR 2,927
$41.78MX$733
-54.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.56NPR 1,008
$10.75MX$189
-38.98%
Cappuccino
$1.84NPR 283
$3.50MX$61.3
-47.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50NPR 76.4
$1.45MX$25.41
-65.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19NPR 29.27
$0.88MX$15.52
-78.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53NPR 389
$2.95MX$51.7
-14.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60NPR 552
$4.51MX$79.1
-20.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.60NPR 91.7
$1.43MX$25.12
-58.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.21NPR 32.11
$1.84MX$32.23
-88.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.37NPR 57.3
$1.57MX$27.51
-76.43%
Eggs
$1.11NPR 171
$2.51MX$44.06
-55.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73NPR 1,342
$8.28MX$145
5.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.14NPR 328
$8.43MX$148
-74.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.98NPR 457
$10.68MX$187
-72.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80NPR 277
$2.61MX$45.76
-31.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 167
$1.44MX$25.22
-24.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.70NPR 108
$1.96MX$34.41
-64.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37NPR 57.5
$2.09MX$36.74
-82.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34NPR 52.8
$1.85MX$32.47
-81.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35NPR 53.2
$2.17MX$38.02
-83.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52NPR 80.1
$1.03MX$18.09
-49.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17NPR 25.66
$1.07MX$18.84
-84.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22NPR 341
$4.10MX$72.0
-45.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.82NPR 587
$10.17MX$178
-62.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49NPR 229
$1.68MX$29.38
-11.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25NPR 499
$2.53MX$44.31
28.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21NPR 31.61
$0.51MX$8.93
-58.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.20NPR 338
$3.23MX$56.7
-31.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05NPR 162
$2.41MX$42.19
-56.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.73NPR 573
$3.23MX$56.6
15.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27NPR 195
$1.32MX$23.17
-3.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KNPR 5.0M
$29.7KMX$520.9K
9.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7KNPR 6.3M
$23.7KMX$415.0K
72.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.60NPR 5,008
$82.0MX$1,439
-60.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.75NPR 730
$22.95MX$403
-79.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.76NPR 1,499
$30.11MX$528
-67.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.38NPR 2,824
$52.0MX$912
-64.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.20NPR 492
$4.98MX$87.3
-35.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.7NPR 14.1K
$197MX$3,463
-53.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,820NPR 586.7K
$5,336MX$93.6K
-28.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.43NPR 3,753
$35.60MX$624
-31.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.49NPR 4,377
$40.33MX$707
-29.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.6NPR 9,005
$78.8MX$1,381
-25.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.33NPR 6,196
$88.9MX$1,560
-54.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$107NPR 16.4K
$947MX$16.6K
-88.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.9NPR 9,659
$474MX$8,314
-86.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204NPR 31.3K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-87.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145NPR 22.3K
$1,211MX$21.2K
-88.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gaighat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
11.42
5.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gaighat: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Gaighat and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Gaighat vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $107 vs $249 per month, with Gaighat 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
Gaighat vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gaighat and in Playa del Carmen?
Gaighat and Playa del Carmen differ by about 216% in total monthly costs ($398 vs $1,256 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Gaighat compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $596 in Gaighat and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Gaighat and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $107 in Gaighat versus $947 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 132% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Gaighat or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $398 per month in Gaighat versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 216% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $398 in Gaighat versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gaighat but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gaighat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gaighat 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.
Is Gaighat or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gaighat 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.
Where should expats move: Gaighat or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Gaighat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 216% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.