😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,098 in Gizo versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,983 in Gizo versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,868 in Gizo versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Gizo is roughly 63% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gizo is 57% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05SBD 24.37
$11.94MX$208
-74.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9SBD 439
$42.75MX$744
28.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.02SBD 120
$10.59MX$184
41.83%
Cappuccino
$2.77SBD 22.20
$3.62MX$63.0
-23.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17SBD 9.36
$1.47MX$25.54
-20.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18SBD 9.47
$0.94MX$16.41
25.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42SBD 19.36
$3.09MX$53.8
-21.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SBD 18.80
$4.46MX$77.6
-47.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$3.04SBD 24.36
$1.43MX$24.80
112.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30SBD 10.40
$1.88MX$32.79
-30.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36SBD 10.91
$1.63MX$28.34
-16.56%
Eggs
$6.80SBD 54.4
$2.64MX$45.99
157.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.17SBD 65.4
$8.21MX$143
-0.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.95SBD 47.61
$8.29MX$144
-28.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.46SBD 67.7
$11.10MX$193
-23.78%
Apples(1kg)
$6.78SBD 54.2
$2.65MX$46.14
155.85%
Banana(1kg)
$6.09SBD 48.73
$1.50MX$26.11
306.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.04SBD 48.34
$1.99MX$34.59
203.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07SBD 24.56
$2.08MX$36.13
47.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91SBD 23.29
$1.79MX$31.11
62.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45SBD 19.60
$2.18MX$37.87
12.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.44SBD 19.53
$1.08MX$18.73
125.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SBD 10.36
$1.04MX$18.04
24.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08SBD 32.62
$3.97MX$69.1
2.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37SBD 99.0
$10.20MX$178
21.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SBD 14.78
$1.73MX$30.04
6.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SBD 17.18
$2.50MX$43.46
-14.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38SBD 3.02
$0.52MX$9.02
-26.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.38SBD 243
$26.97MX$469
12.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19SBD 9.49
$3.14MX$54.7
-62.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.31SBD 18.49
$2.40MX$41.80
-3.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.75SBD 94.0
$3.09MX$53.7
280.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71SBD 13.68
$1.27MX$22.16
34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3KSBD 162.7K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-34.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KSBD 171.1K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-8.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$711SBD 5,687
$82.0MX$1,427
766.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.98SBD 104
$22.45MX$391
-42.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$122SBD 977
$29.66MX$516
311.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.05SBD 144
$51.9MX$903
-65.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02SBD 48.18
$18.67MX$325
-67.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.08SBD 32.62
$4.97MX$86.5
-17.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$120SBD 962
$198MX$3,442
-39.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,200SBD 9,601
$5,273MX$91.7K
-77.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.40SBD 195
$36.34MX$632
-32.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$89.7SBD 718
$40.05MX$697
124.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2SBD 778
$79.9MX$1,390
21.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.6SBD 677
$88.9MX$1,547
-4.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582SBD 4,655
$963MX$16.8K
-39.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$560SBD 4,480
$465MX$8,086
20.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598SBD 4,786
$1,596MX$27.8K
-62.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222SBD 9,773
$1,209MX$21.0K
1.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$88.6KSBD 709.0K
$3,942MX$68.6K
2148.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gizo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$395SBD 3,159
$720MX$12.5K
-45.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.33
11.42
42.99%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Gizo: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $582 in Gizo and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Gizo vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Gizo vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Gizo or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Gizo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gizo or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 82% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gizo vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $582 in Gizo versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Gizo or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Gizo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Gizo vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $55.0 in Gizo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gizo or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,098 in Gizo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gizo. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gizo or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Gizo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Gizo and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Gizo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.