Cost of Living Comparison Between Girona and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Girona and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,830 per month in Girona vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Girona vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,651 per month in Girona vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Girona costs about 45% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Girona sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.68 €14.45
$11.72 MX$203
42.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.2
$41.89 MX$725
65.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 €7.82
$10.51 MX$182
-14.08%
Cappuccino
$2.18 €1.89
$3.59 MX$62.0
-39.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 €1.61
$1.51 MX$26.10
23.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.43
$0.92 MX$15.83
79.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 €3.04
$2.96 MX$51.2
18.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 €4.07
$4.41 MX$76.3
6.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.10
$1.40 MX$24.16
-9.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 €1.16
$1.88 MX$32.60
-28.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 €1.41
$1.56 MX$26.97
4.49%
Eggs
$2.96 €2.57
$2.61 MX$45.14
13.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.68 €9.25
$8.32 MX$144
28.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 €7.99
$8.35 MX$145
10.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.70 €7.53
$10.86 MX$188
-19.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 €2.11
$2.71 MX$46.93
-9.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 €1.84
$1.51 MX$26.04
41.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$1.87 MX$32.41
6.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.84 €2.46
$2.19 MX$37.89
29.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 €1.24
$1.86 MX$32.14
-23.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 €1.24
$2.23 MX$38.59
-35.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 €0.88
$1.07 MX$18.48
-4.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.66
$1.09 MX$18.79
-30.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21 €5.37
$4.19 MX$72.4
48.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.86 €6.80
$10.43 MX$180
-24.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.66 MX$28.68
-18.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.81
$2.61 MX$45.19
-19.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 €1.42
$0.54 MX$9.37
203.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.05 €33.82
$26.16 MX$453
49.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 €2.04
$3.08 MX$53.3
-23.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.84
$2.40 MX$41.61
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.14 €19.18
$3.13 MX$54.1
607.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.56
$1.31 MX$22.69
38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K €32.0K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
24.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K €28.7K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
42.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 €103
$81.3 MX$1,406
46.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.71
$22.56 MX$390
-9.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.71 €32.65
$30.05 MX$520
25.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.0 €47.65
$52.9 MX$915
4.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.65 €16.15
$18.39 MX$318
1.41%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 €9.36
$4.92 MX$85.1
119.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$327 €283
$201 MX$3,474
62.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,653 €8,360
$5,175 MX$89.5K
86.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.2
$35.92 MX$622
157.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.39 €28.91
$40.13 MX$694
-16.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 €78.3
$79.7 MX$1,379
13.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 €115
$86.5 MX$1,496
53.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,354 €1,172
$978 MX$16.9K
38.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$876 €759
$470 MX$8,140
86.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,194 €1,900
$1,651 MX$28.6K
32.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,386 €1,200
$1,203 MX$20.8K
15.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,336 €4,621
$3,953 MX$68.4K
34.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,155 €2,732
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-52.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Girona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,828 €1,583
$677 MX$11.7K
170.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
11.42
-68.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Girona: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,354 in Girona versus $978 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 170% higher in Girona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Girona versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Girona vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Girona wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Girona vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Girona or Playa del Carmen?
Girona costs about 45% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Girona and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,745 per month in Girona and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Girona 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Girona or in Playa del Carmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Girona – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Girona and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Girona and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Girona or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Girona at $1,830. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Girona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Girona or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $1,830 in Girona. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Girona 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 Girona 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, Girona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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