🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Georgetown versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Georgetown versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Georgetown versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Georgetown costs roughly 5% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Georgetown11% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58EC$20.46
$11.99MX$210
-36.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.78MX$733
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.88EC$29.38
$10.75MX$189
1.21%
Cappuccino
-
$3.50MX$61.3
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52EC$4.11
$1.45MX$25.41
4.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84EC$4.96
$0.88MX$15.52
109.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.51EC$4.09
$2.95MX$51.7
-48.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68EC$9.93
$4.51MX$79.1
-18.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.47EC$6.67
$1.43MX$25.12
72.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62EC$4.36
$1.84MX$32.23
-11.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66EC$4.48
$1.57MX$27.51
5.73%
Eggs
$4.31EC$11.64
$2.51MX$44.06
71.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.75EC$26.33
$8.28MX$145
17.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80EC$12.95
$8.43MX$148
-43.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.54EC$39.27
$10.68MX$187
36.14%
Apples(1kg)
$18.63EC$50.3
$2.61MX$45.76
613.79%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.44MX$25.22
-
Oranges(1kg)
$8.08EC$21.82
$1.96MX$34.41
312.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.65EC$17.96
$2.09MX$36.74
218.18%
Potato(1kg)
$6.35EC$17.14
$1.85MX$32.47
243.24%
Onion(1kg)
$4.10EC$11.08
$2.17MX$38.02
88.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.67EC$9.92
$1.03MX$18.09
256.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.91EC$7.87
$1.07MX$18.84
171.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98EC$16.15
$4.10MX$72.0
45.85%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.17MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68EC$7.23
$1.68MX$29.38
59.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76EC$10.15
$2.53MX$44.31
48.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65EC$7.16
$0.51MX$8.93
419.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$110EC$298
$26.04MX$457
323.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.23MX$56.7
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.41MX$42.19
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.02EC$100.0
$3.23MX$56.6
1046.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.32MX$23.17
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KEC$98.9K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
23.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$82.0MX$1,439
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.95MX$403
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0EC$149
$30.11MX$528
82.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.27EC$60.1
$52.0MX$912
-57.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.26EC$49.30
$18.53MX$325
-1.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.44EC$20.08
$4.98MX$87.3
49.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186EC$502
$197MX$3,463
-5.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,336MX$93.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.1EC$200
$35.60MX$624
108.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$110EC$298
$40.33MX$707
173.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$184EC$496
$78.8MX$1,381
133.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149EC$401
$88.9MX$1,560
67.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294EC$793
$947MX$16.6K
-68.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$224EC$606
$474MX$8,314
-52.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,083EC$8,323
$1,644MX$28.8K
87.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$661EC$1,784
$1,211MX$21.2K
-45.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Georgetown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.42
5.08%
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 one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Georgetown and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Georgetown?
Georgetown is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,786 in Georgetown and $1,884 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.
What is the rent difference between Georgetown and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $294 in Georgetown versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $186 in Georgetown versus $197 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 public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Georgetown runs roughly 323% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Georgetown or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,190 in Georgetown versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Georgetown but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Georgetown the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Georgetown or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Georgetown is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Georgetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Georgetown vs other spots: cost of living compared