Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Georgetown and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $1,643 in Georgetown, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Georgetown
🇬🇾 Guyana
$1,643
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Georgetown and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Georgetown and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,643 per month in Georgetown vs $1,210 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Georgetown $1,643
  • Playa del Carmen $1,210

A couple spends around $2,771 per month in Georgetown vs $2,113 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Georgetown $2,771
  • Playa del Carmen $2,113

A family of three spends $3,899 per month in Georgetown vs $3,016 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Georgetown $3,899
  • Playa del Carmen $3,016

Georgetown costs about 36% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Georgetown sits 22% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26 GYD 3,797
$10.76 MX$199
69.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.3 GYD 14.8K
$43.03 MX$795
65.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.19 GYD 1,911
$11.79 MX$218
-22.05%
Cappuccino
$5.71 GYD 1,188
$3.87 MX$71.4
47.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 GYD 252
$1.37 MX$25.29
-11.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 GYD 126
$0.84 MX$15.44
-27.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 GYD 406
$3.10 MX$57.3
-37.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 GYD 680
$5.07 MX$93.6
-35.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.56 GYD 741
$1.44 MX$26.55
147.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 GYD 432
$2.23 MX$41.23
-6.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 GYD 430
$1.47 MX$27.17
40.82%
Eggs
$3.94 GYD 819
$2.53 MX$46.71
55.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.16 GYD 3,152
$7.30 MX$135
107.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.01 GYD 1,458
$7.86 MX$145
-10.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.91 GYD 1,853
$12.79 MX$236
-30.34%
Apples (1kg)
$8.17 GYD 1,699
$2.90 MX$53.6
181.72%
Banana (1kg)
$4.04 GYD 840
$1.44 MX$26.53
180.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 GYD 844
$2.55 MX$47.07
59.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.15 GYD 1,487
$2.06 MX$38.03
247.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 GYD 508
$2.00 MX$36.97
22.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 GYD 639
$2.01 MX$37.07
53.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.14 GYD 653
$1.19 MX$22.02
163.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 GYD 332
$1.26 MX$23.23
26.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 GYD 713
$4.40 MX$81.4
-22.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.72 GYD 3,476
$9.59 MX$177
74.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 GYD 380
$1.59 MX$29.41
15.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 GYD 529
$2.81 MX$51.9
-9.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 GYD 121
$0.57 MX$10.47
1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.5 GYD 12.8K
$27.82 MX$514
120.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.27 GYD 888
$4.98 MX$92.1
-14.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.33 GYD 485
$3.50 MX$64.6
-33.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.90 GYD 2,473
$5.40 MX$99.8
120.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 GYD 223
$1.47 MX$27.08
-27.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K GYD 5.6M
$21.0K MX$387.8K
29.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K GYD 4.7M
$23.9K MX$441.8K
-5.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 GYD 24.9K
$84.2 MX$1,556
42.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.78 GYD 4,527
$23.99 MX$443
-9.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.50 GYD 9,251
$29.02 MX$536
53.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.71 GYD 7,840
$63.0 MX$1,164
-40.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.08 GYD 3,135
$29.14 MX$539
-48.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.04 GYD 1,256
$4.94 MX$91.3
22.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,009 GYD 209.9K
$204 MX$3,763
395.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K GYD 3.9M
$3,941 MX$72.8K
378.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.95 GYD 7,889
$43.60 MX$806
-12.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.02 GYD 8,528
$43.12 MX$797
-4.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 GYD 27.7K
$75.8 MX$1,400
75.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 GYD 17.8K
$88.6 MX$1,637
-3.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$958 GYD 199.1K
$1,008 MX$18.6K
-5.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$530 GYD 110.1K
$374 MX$6,911
41.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,344 GYD 695.3K
$1,708 MX$31.6K
95.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,288 GYD 267.7K
$1,106 MX$20.4K
16.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 GYD 747.6K
$3,944 MX$72.9K
-8.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 GYD 324.2K
$6,169 MX$114.0K
-74.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$520 GYD 108.2K
$754 MX$13.9K
-31.00%
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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Georgetown
$530
Playa del Carmen
$374 29.4% $156
Groceries & Markets
Georgetown
$398
Playa del Carmen
$258 35% $139
Eating Out
Georgetown
$266
Playa del Carmen
$202 23.9% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Georgetown
$186
Playa del Carmen
$137 26.3% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Georgetown
$134
Playa del Carmen
$113 15.7% $21
Getting Around
Georgetown
$80
Playa del Carmen
$53 34.1% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Georgetown
$50
Playa del Carmen
$73 46.3% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $958 in Georgetown versus $1,008 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇾 Georgetown
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
20:16 8:16 PM
19:16 7:16 PM
1 h behind Georgetown
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
310,320 Capital
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to GYD – Guyanese Dollar Converter

Guyanese Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 208 GYD (1,000 GYD = 4.81 USD). 1 EUR = 234 GYD (1,000 GYD = 4.28 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Georgetown Playa del Carmen 3,470 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Georgetown
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 36% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $2,464 per month in Georgetown and $1,816 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 121% 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 $1,009 per month in Georgetown and $204 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 $1,210, than in Georgetown at $1,643. 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 $1,210 versus $1,643 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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