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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $744 in Goiana versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,208 in Goiana versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Goiana versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Goiana costs roughly 42% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Goiana 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.74 R$28.64
$11.94 MX$209
-51.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.75 R$183
$42.75 MX$748
-14.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.22 R$31.06
$10.59 MX$185
-41.27%
Cappuccino
$1.82 R$9.08
$3.62 MX$63.4
-49.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 R$6.05
$1.47 MX$25.69
-17.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.04
$0.94 MX$16.51
-35.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 R$7.88
$3.09 MX$54.1
-48.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 R$10.86
$4.46 MX$78.0
-51.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 R$5.52
$1.43 MX$24.94
-22.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 R$6.24
$1.88 MX$32.97
-33.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.21
$1.63 MX$28.50
-36.20%
Eggs
$1.92 R$9.59
$2.64 MX$46.26
-27.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.50 R$32.45
$8.21 MX$144
-20.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.67 R$18.29
$8.29 MX$145
-55.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.20 R$30.95
$11.10 MX$194
-44.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 R$10.75
$2.65 MX$46.40
-18.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.86 R$4.31
$1.50 MX$26.26
-42.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.88 R$4.38
$1.99 MX$34.79
-55.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 R$5.61
$2.08 MX$36.33
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 R$4.96
$1.79 MX$31.29
-44.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 R$5.00
$2.18 MX$38.09
-54.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 R$2.61
$1.08 MX$18.84
-51.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 R$2.57
$1.04 MX$18.15
-50.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.66 R$8.27
$3.97 MX$69.5
-58.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.95 R$39.65
$10.20 MX$179
-22.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 R$6.19
$1.73 MX$30.22
-28.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 R$12.86
$2.50 MX$43.71
3.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 R$4.65
$0.52 MX$9.07
78.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.85 R$194
$26.97 MX$472
44.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 R$4.39
$3.14 MX$55.0
-71.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 R$3.34
$2.40 MX$42.04
-72.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 R$53.2
$3.09 MX$54.0
244.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 R$4.88
$1.27 MX$22.28
-22.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K R$106.7K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-30.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K R$155.9K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
33.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.26 R$216
$82.0 MX$1,435
-47.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.59 R$62.8
$22.45 MX$393
-43.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.96 R$94.6
$29.66 MX$519
-36.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.48 R$112
$51.9 MX$908
-56.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.50 R$107
$18.67 MX$327
15.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95 R$34.66
$4.97 MX$87.0
39.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 R$592
$198 MX$3,462
-40.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,309 R$21.5K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
-18.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 R$304
$36.34 MX$636
67.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.87 R$214
$40.05 MX$701
7.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.6 R$282
$79.9 MX$1,398
-29.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0 R$354
$88.9 MX$1,555
-20.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$320 R$1,596
$963 MX$16.9K
-66.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 R$1,091
$465 MX$8,133
-52.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 R$2,914
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-63.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$430 R$2,146
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-64.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,614 R$8,053
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-59.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 R$5,913
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-81.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goiana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$610 R$3,043
$720 MX$12.6K
-15.35%
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 Goiana: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Goiana and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $37.00 in Goiana vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $251 per month, with Goiana cheaper across the board.

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
Goiana vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Goiana and Playa del Carmen?
Goiana and Playa del Carmen differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($744 vs $1,287 including rent). Goiana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Goiana and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $320 in Goiana versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Goiana – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Goiana or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $744 per month in Goiana versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $744 in Goiana versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Goiana but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Goiana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Goiana and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Goiana or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Goiana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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