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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Goma vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Goma vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,083 per month in Goma vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Goma is about 15% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Goma and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Goma 20% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

$11.99 MX$209

5.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

$41.78 MX$728

8.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

$10.75 MX$187

-8.09%

Cappuccino

$3.41 CDF 7,667

$3.50 MX$60.9

-2.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 CDF 2,215

$1.45 MX$25.22

-31.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,294

$0.88 MX$15.41

15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 CDF 3,680

$2.95 MX$51.3

-44.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

$4.51 MX$78.6

12.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,279

$1.43 MX$24.94

2.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 CDF 4,561

$1.84 MX$31.99

10.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CDF 3,498

$1.57 MX$27.31

-0.64%

Eggs

$1.69 CDF 3,806

$2.51 MX$43.74

-32.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

$8.28 MX$144

-27.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

$8.43 MX$147

-25.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

$10.68 MX$186

-51.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CDF 4,434

$2.61 MX$45.43

-24.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 CDF 4,570

$1.44 MX$25.04

40.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 CDF 3,815

$1.96 MX$34.16

-13.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 CDF 6,874

$2.09 MX$36.47

46.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,080

$1.85 MX$32.24

-74.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CDF 4,450

$2.17 MX$37.74

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 CDF 1,615

$1.07 MX$18.70

-32.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,436

$1.68 MX$29.17

17.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CDF 4,978

$2.53 MX$43.98

-12.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 CDF 4,532

$2.41 MX$41.88

-16.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,284

$1.32 MX$23.00

-22.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$200 CDF 448.9K

$82.0 MX$1,428

143.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

$22.95 MX$400

-35.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

$30.11 MX$524

85.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

$52.0 MX$905

-42.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

$35.60 MX$620

-44.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 CDF 225.8K

$88.9 MX$1,549

13.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$947 MX$16.5K

-47.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 CDF 671.6K

$474 MX$8,254

-36.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 CDF 1.8M

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-51.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 CDF 1.1M

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-58.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Goma versus $947 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 $45.00 in Goma versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Goma vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Goma 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

Goma vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 18% more than Goma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,594 per month in Goma and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Goma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,062 in Goma and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Goma, where all-in costs run around $1,062, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Goma costs $1,062 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Goma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.