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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,317 per month in Georgetown vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,386 per month in Georgetown vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,456 per month in Georgetown vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Georgetown costs about 5% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Georgetown and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Georgetown 1% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.09 GYD 2,515
$11.99 MX$210
0.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 GYD 14.7K
$41.78 MX$731
68.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.51 GYD 1,770
$10.75 MX$188
-20.84%
Cappuccino
$5.08 GYD 1,057
$3.50 MX$61.1
45.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 GYD 246
$1.45 MX$25.33
-18.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 GYD 136
$0.88 MX$15.47
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 GYD 417
$2.95 MX$51.6
-32.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 GYD 497
$4.51 MX$78.9
-47.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.33 GYD 692
$1.43 MX$25.04
132.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 GYD 423
$1.84 MX$32.13
10.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 GYD 411
$1.57 MX$27.42
26.11%
Eggs
$3.99 GYD 830
$2.51 MX$43.92
58.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.02 GYD 2,916
$8.28 MX$145
69.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 GYD 1,302
$8.43 MX$147
-25.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.40 GYD 1,955
$10.68 MX$187
-11.99%
Apples (1kg)
$9.65 GYD 2,006
$2.61 MX$45.62
269.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 GYD 533
$1.44 MX$25.15
77.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 GYD 677
$1.96 MX$34.31
66.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.51 GYD 1,353
$2.09 MX$36.62
211.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 GYD 519
$1.85 MX$32.37
35.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 GYD 605
$2.17 MX$37.90
34.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 GYD 470
$1.03 MX$18.04
119.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 GYD 301
$1.07 MX$18.78
35.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 GYD 564
$4.10 MX$71.7
-33.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.04 GYD 3,544
$10.17 MX$178
67.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 GYD 352
$1.68 MX$29.29
0.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 GYD 529
$2.53 MX$44.17
0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 GYD 123
$0.51 MX$8.90
15.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.90 GYD 6,010
$26.04 MX$455
10.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 GYD 650
$3.23 MX$56.5
-3.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.27 GYD 680
$2.41 MX$42.06
35.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.88 GYD 2,470
$3.23 MX$56.5
267.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 GYD 208
$1.32 MX$23.10
-24.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K GYD 4.7M
$29.7K MX$519.2K
-23.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K GYD 3.7M
$23.7K MX$413.7K
-25.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.3 GYD 19.0K
$82.0 MX$1,434
11.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.96 GYD 5,607
$22.95 MX$401
17.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8 GYD 10.8K
$30.11 MX$527
71.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.09 GYD 8,129
$52.0 MX$909
-24.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 GYD 1,431
$4.98 MX$87.0
38.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,016 GYD 211.4K
$197 MX$3,452
414.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K GYD 4.8M
$5,336 MX$93.3K
330.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.82 GYD 7,034
$35.60 MX$622
-5.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 GYD 11.1K
$40.33 MX$705
32.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 GYD 27.0K
$78.8 MX$1,377
64.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 GYD 15.7K
$88.9 MX$1,555
-15.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 GYD 162.7K
$947 MX$16.6K
-17.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$323 GYD 67.2K
$474 MX$8,288
-31.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,442 GYD 507.8K
$1,644 MX$28.7K
48.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,146 GYD 238.3K
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-5.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,584 GYD 745.4K
$4,056 MX$70.9K
-11.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,551 GYD 322.6K
$6,470 MX$113.1K
-76.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$514 GYD 107.0K
$654 MX$11.4K
-21.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
11.42
-34.33%

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

Last update for Georgetown: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $783 in Georgetown versus $947 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 27% higher in Playa del Carmen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Georgetown versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Georgetown vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Georgetown or Playa del Carmen?
Georgetown costs about 5% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Georgetown and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,975 per month in Georgetown and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Georgetown or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Georgetown compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Georgetown and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,016 per month in Georgetown and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Georgetown or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Georgetown at $1,317. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Georgetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Georgetown or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,317 in Georgetown. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Georgetown or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Georgetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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