Cost of Living Comparison Between Givat Shmuel and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Givat Shmuel and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,795 per month in Givat Shmuel vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,173 per month in Givat Shmuel vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,551 per month in Givat Shmuel vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Givat Shmuel costs about 114% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Givat Shmuel sits 103% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.97 ₪69.6
$11.96 MX$203
92.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.9 ₪300
$47.38 MX$804
108.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.60 ₪62.4
$11.75 MX$199
75.32%
Cappuccino
$5.63 ₪17.05
$4.12 MX$70.0
36.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 ₪8.98
$1.40 MX$23.74
111.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₪5.87
$0.91 MX$15.48
113.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.02 ₪30.37
$3.21 MX$54.4
212.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52 ₪19.76
$7.07 MX$120
-7.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ₪6.37
$1.68 MX$28.44
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 ₪8.31
$2.15 MX$36.48
27.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₪6.82
$1.77 MX$30.10
27.12%
Eggs
$5.35 ₪16.20
$2.82 MX$47.76
89.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.40 ₪67.9
$9.20 MX$156
143.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.94 ₪42.24
$9.23 MX$157
51.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.92 ₪78.6
$12.64 MX$214
105.06%
Apples (1kg)
$4.80 ₪14.53
$2.95 MX$50.1
62.71%
Banana (1kg)
$3.96 ₪11.99
$1.58 MX$26.79
150.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 ₪7.74
$2.22 MX$37.70
14.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 ₪10.39
$2.36 MX$40.09
45.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 ₪5.44
$1.99 MX$33.81
-10.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ₪4.38
$1.98 MX$33.58
-26.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.76 ₪8.37
$1.24 MX$21.04
122.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₪3.09
$1.21 MX$20.55
-15.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.96 ₪45.33
$4.60 MX$78.1
225.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.95 ₪27.11
$10.52 MX$178
-14.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 ₪10.18
$1.69 MX$28.70
98.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 ₪12.11
$2.77 MX$47.06
44.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 ₪8.20
$0.60 MX$10.22
351.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 ₪232
$29.70 MX$504
157.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 ₪8.28
$5.24 MX$88.8
-47.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 ₪3.55
$3.65 MX$61.9
-67.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.02 ₪60.7
$5.78 MX$98.1
246.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.61 ₪7.89
$1.54 MX$26.09
69.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.2K ₪176.5K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
155.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.0K ₪175.8K
$25.8K MX$437.9K
124.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$447 ₪1,356
$90.7 MX$1,538
393.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.86 ₪35.95
$25.19 MX$427
-52.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.64 ₪111
$31.75 MX$539
15.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₪224
$68.8 MX$1,167
7.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.39 ₪40.56
$4.86 MX$82.5
175.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,182 ₪3,583
$226 MX$3,828
423.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.5K ₪95.3K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
650.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.71 ₪120
$47.38 MX$804
-16.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96 ₪133
$43.45 MX$737
1.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 ₪284
$80.2 MX$1,361
16.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ₪353
$91.4 MX$1,550
27.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,555 ₪4,711
$1,086 MX$18.4K
43.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 ₪3,559
$409 MX$6,933
187.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,335 ₪7,075
$1,972 MX$33.5K
18.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,901 ₪5,761
$1,281 MX$21.7K
48.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,729 ₪29.5K
$4,046 MX$68.6K
140.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,884 ₪23.9K
$6,704 MX$113.7K
17.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Givat Shmuel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.03
11.45
-56.07%

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

Last update for Givat Shmuel: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,555 in Givat Shmuel versus $1,086 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 $99.0 in Givat Shmuel versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $443 vs $278 – 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
Givat Shmuel vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Givat Shmuel or Playa del Carmen?
Givat Shmuel costs about 114% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Givat Shmuel and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,193 per month in Givat Shmuel and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Givat Shmuel 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 Givat Shmuel compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,795 in Givat Shmuel and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Givat Shmuel compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 158% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Givat Shmuel or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Givat Shmuel at $2,795. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Givat Shmuel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Givat Shmuel or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,305 versus $2,795 in Givat Shmuel. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Givat Shmuel 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, Givat Shmuel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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