😐A single person spends $2,039 per month in Gharghur vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,038 per month in Gharghur vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,037 per month in Gharghur vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Gharghur costs about 53% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Gharghur sits 49% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.98€11.96
$13.02MX$221
7.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.4€73.9
$46.25MX$784
86.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.70€11.72
$12.59MX$213
8.82%
Cappuccino
$2.34€2.00
$4.00MX$67.9
-41.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48€2.12
$1.42MX$24.08
74.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$0.81MX$13.73
45.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.17€4.42
$3.05MX$51.7
69.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.41
$6.82MX$116
-41.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.71MX$29.04
-29.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26€1.08
$2.22MX$37.62
-43.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.70€3.17
$1.72MX$29.13
115.12%
Eggs
$4.54€3.89
$2.71MX$45.99
67.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.77€9.22
$9.37MX$159
14.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.38€10.59
$8.86MX$150
39.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.03€16.28
$12.78MX$217
48.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.93€3.37
$3.13MX$53.0
25.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88€2.46
$1.55MX$26.24
85.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.90€3.34
$2.15MX$36.51
81.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95€3.38
$2.35MX$39.89
68.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00€1.71
$2.02MX$34.23
-0.99%
Onion(1kg)
$3.43€2.94
$1.99MX$33.67
72.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35€2.01
$1.24MX$21.09
89.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62€1.38
$1.19MX$20.21
36.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.67€5.70
$4.65MX$78.8
43.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.21€5.32
$10.47MX$177
-40.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47€2.11
$1.58MX$26.82
56.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.03
$2.92MX$49.48
-18.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42€2.07
$0.56MX$9.53
332.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.76MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.13€3.53
$5.32MX$90.2
-22.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84€1.57
$3.72MX$63.0
-50.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.16€29.22
$5.78MX$97.9
491.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53€1.31
$1.55MX$26.27
-1.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.1K
$22.4KMX$379.1K
30.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K€34.5K
$25.6KMX$433.3K
57.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163€139
$89.3MX$1,513
82.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.52€27.82
$23.30MX$395
39.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.91€27.30
$31.72MX$538
0.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3€52.4
$68.8MX$1,165
-10.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.40MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.92€10.20
$5.06MX$85.7
135.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288€246
$222MX$3,765
29.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K€10.8K
$4,293MX$72.7K
195.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8€66.6
$46.21MX$783
68.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.13€35.19
$44.43MX$753
-7.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€98.4
$95.5MX$1,618
20.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€99.8
$92.5MX$1,568
26.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,130€967
$1,069MX$18.1K
5.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$943€807
$393MX$6,663
139.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,821€1,558
$1,988MX$33.7K
-8.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,548€1,324
$1,304MX$22.1K
18.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,854€3,297
$4,037MX$68.4K
-4.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,790€2,386
$6,627MX$112.3K
-57.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gharghur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$747MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.05
11.6
-65.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gharghur: August 18, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,130 in Gharghur 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Gharghur versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 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
Gharghur vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gharghur or Playa del Carmen?
Gharghur costs about 53% 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 Gharghur and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,058 per month in Gharghur and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gharghur 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 much does it cost to live in Gharghur compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,039 in Gharghur and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Gharghur and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Gharghur and $222 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 Gharghur or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Gharghur at $2,039. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gharghur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gharghur or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,330 versus $2,039 in Gharghur. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gharghur compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Gharghur 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, Gharghur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.