😐A single person spends $1,637 per month in Georgetown vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,760 per month in Georgetown vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,884 per month in Georgetown vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Georgetown costs about 27% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Georgetown sits 19% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.79GYD 3,699
$11.71MX$199
51.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6GYD 14.7K
$46.59MX$791
51.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.56GYD 1,988
$11.65MX$198
-17.94%
Cappuccino
$5.74GYD 1,194
$4.09MX$69.5
40.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22GYD 254
$1.37MX$23.34
-10.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62GYD 128
$0.83MX$14.16
-25.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88GYD 391
$3.35MX$56.9
-43.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43GYD 713
$6.91MX$117
-50.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.31GYD 688
$1.73MX$29.33
91.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14GYD 444
$2.26MX$38.39
-5.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00GYD 415
$1.77MX$30.05
12.99%
Eggs
$4.18GYD 869
$2.73MX$46.41
53.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.60GYD 3,245
$9.18MX$156
69.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.14GYD 1,485
$8.92MX$151
-19.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.13GYD 1,899
$12.60MX$214
-27.54%
Apples(1kg)
$8.09GYD 1,682
$3.02MX$51.3
167.88%
Banana(1kg)
$3.94GYD 820
$1.57MX$26.68
150.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95GYD 821
$2.13MX$36.10
85.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.00GYD 1,457
$2.26MX$38.46
209.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44GYD 508
$2.00MX$34.04
22.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.10GYD 645
$2.06MX$35.06
50.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.04GYD 632
$1.18MX$20.04
157.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68GYD 349
$1.20MX$20.45
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42GYD 712
$4.63MX$78.7
-26.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.81GYD 3,496
$10.69MX$182
57.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84GYD 383
$1.62MX$27.50
13.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62GYD 546
$2.88MX$48.93
-9.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55GYD 115
$0.57MX$9.74
-3.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.0GYD 12.7K
$29.83MX$507
104.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36GYD 906
$5.45MX$92.5
-20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33GYD 484
$3.70MX$62.9
-37.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.98GYD 2,491
$5.98MX$102
100.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02GYD 212
$1.55MX$26.38
-34.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KGYD 5.7M
$22.3KMX$379.2K
23.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KGYD 4.7M
$25.9KMX$440.7K
-12.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122GYD 25.4K
$89.1MX$1,514
36.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33GYD 4,435
$25.04MX$425
-14.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.92GYD 9,133
$31.50MX$535
39.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.59GYD 8,026
$67.8MX$1,151
-43.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.11GYD 3,142
$28.92MX$491
-47.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34GYD 1,319
$5.05MX$85.8
25.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,015GYD 211.2K
$225MX$3,820
351.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.0KGYD 4.0M
$4,222MX$71.7K
350.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.78GYD 7,858
$47.44MX$806
-20.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.31GYD 8,591
$44.98MX$764
-8.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136GYD 28.3K
$82.0MX$1,392
66.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5GYD 18.0K
$92.1MX$1,564
-6.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954GYD 198.4K
$1,069MX$18.2K
-10.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$514GYD 106.9K
$405MX$6,884
26.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,290GYD 684.2K
$1,935MX$32.9K
69.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,312GYD 272.8K
$1,301MX$22.1K
0.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,628GYD 754.6K
$3,995MX$67.9K
-9.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,559GYD 324.2K
$6,626MX$112.5K
-76.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$515GYD 107.2K
$749MX$12.7K
-31.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.94
11.45
-39.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Georgetown: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $954 in Georgetown 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 45% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $277 – 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 27% 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 $2,455 per month in Georgetown and $1,940 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 105% 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 $1,015 per month in Georgetown and $225 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 $1,293, than in Georgetown at $1,637. 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 $1,293 versus $1,637 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.
Georgetown vs other spots: cost of living compared