🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $392 in Gaur versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $657 in Gaur versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $921 in Gaur versus $2,990 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: Gaur71% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87NPR 285
$11.72MX$203
-84.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78NPR 2,866
$41.89MX$725
-55.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.63NPR 1,012
$10.51MX$182
-36.92%
Cappuccino
$1.50NPR 228
$3.59MX$62.0
-58.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51NPR 77.3
$1.51MX$26.10
-66.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18NPR 28.18
$0.92MX$15.83
-80.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52NPR 385
$2.96MX$51.2
-14.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55NPR 542
$4.41MX$76.3
-19.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73NPR 112
$1.40MX$24.16
-47.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55NPR 84.4
$1.88MX$32.60
-70.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82NPR 125
$1.56MX$26.97
-47.44%
Eggs
$1.71NPR 260
$2.61MX$45.14
-34.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.20NPR 1,099
$8.32MX$144
-13.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23NPR 494
$8.35MX$145
-61.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.08NPR 928
$10.86MX$188
-44.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19NPR 334
$2.71MX$46.93
-19.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 167
$1.51MX$26.04
-27.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23NPR 188
$1.87MX$32.41
-34.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.66NPR 100
$2.19MX$37.89
-69.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49NPR 74.5
$1.86MX$32.14
-73.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65NPR 98.9
$2.23MX$38.59
-70.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53NPR 81.2
$1.07MX$18.48
-50.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25NPR 38.06
$1.09MX$18.79
-77.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88NPR 440
$4.19MX$72.4
-31.26%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.43MX$180
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26NPR 345
$1.66MX$28.68
36.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24NPR 495
$2.61MX$45.19
24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21NPR 32.53
$0.54MX$9.37
-61.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14NPR 326
$3.08MX$53.3
-30.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82NPR 125
$2.40MX$41.61
-65.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.53NPR 539
$3.13MX$54.1
12.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29NPR 196
$1.31MX$22.69
-1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KNPR 4.9M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
8.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KNPR 6.2M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
74.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.42NPR 4,033
$81.3MX$1,406
-67.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.85NPR 741
$22.56MX$390
-78.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.86NPR 1,505
$30.05MX$520
-67.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.42NPR 2,812
$52.9MX$915
-65.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.80NPR 428
$4.92MX$85.1
-43.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$71.1NPR 10.9K
$201MX$3,474
-64.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,794NPR 426.5K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-46.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.43NPR 3,728
$35.92MX$622
-31.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.35NPR 4,174
$40.13MX$694
-31.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.33NPR 7,071
$79.7MX$1,379
-41.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.08NPR 4,439
$86.5MX$1,496
-66.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$104NPR 15.8K
$978MX$16.9K
-89.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.7NPR 9,563
$470MX$8,140
-86.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206NPR 31.4K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-87.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143NPR 21.9K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-88.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gaur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $104 in Gaur and $978 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 $130 vs $252 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 221% in total monthly costs ($392 vs $1,260 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 $588 in Gaur and $1,890 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: $104 in Gaur versus $978 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 $71.1 in Gaur versus $201 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 $392 in Gaur versus $1,260 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 221% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.