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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,426 per month in Georgetown vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,535 per month in Georgetown vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Georgetown costs about 2% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Georgetown and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Georgetown 2% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 GYD 2,449
$11.73 MX$203
0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.5 GYD 15.1K
$41.62 MX$720
74.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.59 GYD 1,786
$10.64 MX$184
-19.27%
Cappuccino
$5.16 GYD 1,073
$3.52 MX$60.9
46.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 GYD 247
$1.51 MX$26.12
-21.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 GYD 135
$0.97 MX$16.84
-32.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 GYD 428
$2.95 MX$51.0
-30.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 GYD 488
$4.45 MX$77.0
-47.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.36 GYD 699
$1.38 MX$23.93
143.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 GYD 445
$1.89 MX$32.72
13.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 GYD 393
$1.64 MX$28.32
15.24%
Eggs
$4.00 GYD 831
$2.51 MX$43.34
59.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.94 GYD 2,898
$8.34 MX$144
67.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 GYD 1,283
$8.34 MX$144
-26.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 GYD 1,958
$10.73 MX$186
-12.21%
Apples (1kg)
$9.36 GYD 1,947
$2.60 MX$45.04
260.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 GYD 541
$1.46 MX$25.20
78.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 GYD 671
$1.90 MX$32.87
70.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.26 GYD 1,301
$2.08 MX$35.91
200.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 GYD 498
$1.78 MX$30.71
34.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 GYD 627
$2.19 MX$37.80
37.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 GYD 475
$1.04 MX$17.99
120.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 GYD 300
$1.08 MX$18.62
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57 GYD 535
$4.08 MX$70.6
-37.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.05 GYD 3,544
$10.32 MX$178
65.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 GYD 363
$1.71 MX$29.61
2.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 GYD 509
$2.58 MX$44.54
-5.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 GYD 126
$0.51 MX$8.81
19.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.07 GYD 6,043
$26.46 MX$458
9.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 GYD 664
$3.26 MX$56.4
-1.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.29 GYD 684
$2.49 MX$43.09
32.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.07 GYD 2,509
$3.25 MX$56.2
271.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 GYD 216
$1.31 MX$22.61
-20.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K GYD 4.6M
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-27.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K GYD 3.6M
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-26.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.5 GYD 18.8K
$82.9 MX$1,433
9.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 GYD 5,695
$22.22 MX$384
23.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 GYD 10.6K
$29.34 MX$507
74.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.07 GYD 8,122
$51.6 MX$893
-24.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 GYD 1,362
$5.07 MX$87.6
29.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,023 GYD 212.6K
$201 MX$3,473
409.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.9K GYD 4.8M
$5,212 MX$90.1K
338.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.88 GYD 7,251
$36.92 MX$639
-5.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 GYD 10.8K
$39.79 MX$688
30.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 GYD 27.1K
$78.5 MX$1,357
66.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7 GYD 16.2K
$87.1 MX$1,506
-10.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$793 GYD 164.8K
$973 MX$16.8K
-18.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 GYD 65.6K
$468 MX$8,090
-32.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,481 GYD 515.8K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
51.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 GYD 247.6K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-2.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,505 GYD 728.7K
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-11.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,573 GYD 327.0K
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-75.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$517 GYD 107.4K
$664 MX$11.5K
-22.18%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $793 in Georgetown versus $973 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 28% 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 $72.0 in Georgetown versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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 2% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,976 per month in Georgetown and $1,945 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 10% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,023 per month in Georgetown and $201 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, 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 $1,297 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 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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