🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $405 in Gaur versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $668 in Gaur versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $931 in Gaur versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Gaur costs roughly 69% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gaur70% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81NPR 273
$11.73MX$204
-84.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.25NPR 2,906
$41.78MX$725
-53.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.37NPR 961
$10.41MX$181
-38.81%
Cappuccino
$1.56NPR 235
$3.61MX$62.6
-56.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54NPR 80.9
$1.46MX$25.28
-63.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18NPR 26.97
$0.97MX$16.84
-81.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55NPR 385
$2.92MX$50.8
-12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71NPR 560
$4.62MX$80.2
-19.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74NPR 112
$1.43MX$24.80
-48.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59NPR 88.4
$1.90MX$32.98
-68.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78NPR 117
$1.57MX$27.18
-50.32%
Eggs
$1.66NPR 251
$2.64MX$45.73
-37.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61NPR 1,149
$8.44MX$146
-9.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10NPR 469
$8.58MX$149
-63.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.15NPR 928
$11.00MX$191
-44.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27NPR 342
$2.70MX$46.91
-15.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05NPR 159
$1.51MX$26.15
-30.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NPR 188
$1.91MX$33.22
-34.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65NPR 98.9
$2.17MX$37.69
-70.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49NPR 73.4
$1.87MX$32.53
-73.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69NPR 104
$2.23MX$38.76
-69.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52NPR 79.0
$1.08MX$18.76
-51.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.13
$1.07MX$18.63
-74.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83NPR 428
$4.16MX$72.2
-31.97%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.29MX$179
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33NPR 351
$1.68MX$29.20
38.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32NPR 502
$2.53MX$43.96
31.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20NPR 29.67
$0.55MX$9.61
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.29MX$456
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14NPR 324
$3.20MX$55.5
-33.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76NPR 115
$2.46MX$42.73
-69.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.69NPR 557
$3.20MX$55.5
15.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22NPR 185
$1.32MX$22.91
-7.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KNPR 4.9M
$30.2KMX$523.3K
7.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KNPR 6.0M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
70.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.76NPR 4,040
$81.4MX$1,412
-67.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.94NPR 746
$22.41MX$389
-77.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.88NPR 1,491
$29.97MX$520
-67.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.12NPR 2,736
$51.6MX$895
-64.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$319
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.68NPR 405
$5.16MX$89.6
-48.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.9NPR 11.2K
$202MX$3,501
-63.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,769NPR 418.1K
$5,311MX$92.2K
-47.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.93NPR 3,764
$35.61MX$618
-29.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.39NPR 4,136
$40.37MX$701
-32.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.81NPR 6,765
$78.6MX$1,365
-43.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.19NPR 4,406
$86.9MX$1,507
-66.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$107NPR 16.2K
$950MX$16.5K
-88.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.7NPR 9,464
$478MX$8,298
-86.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203NPR 30.6K
$1,621MX$28.1K
-87.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143NPR 21.6K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-88.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.7K
-
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 Gaur: June 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Gaur and $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Gaur vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $132 vs $254 per month, with Gaur 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
Gaur vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gaur and in Playa del Carmen?
Gaur and Playa del Carmen differ by about 219% in total monthly costs ($405 vs $1,294 including rent). Gaur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Gaur compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $608 in Gaur and $1,941 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 Gaur and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $107 in Gaur versus $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gaur and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $73.9 in Gaur versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gaur – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $405 in Gaur versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gaur but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gaur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gaur 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 Gaur or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gaur 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: Gaur or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Gaur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 219% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.