😐A single person spends $1,513 per month in Gongju vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,375 per month in Gongju vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,237 per month in Gongju vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Gongju costs about 18% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Gongju sits 13% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.06₩10.5K
$11.94MX$209
-40.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.91₩54.7K
$42.75MX$748
-13.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.90₩8,748
$10.59MX$185
-44.29%
Cappuccino
$4.22₩6,264
$3.62MX$63.4
16.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87₩2,779
$1.47MX$25.69
27.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39₩2,059
$0.94MX$16.51
47.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.71₩5,498
$3.09MX$54.1
20.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98₩8,867
$4.46MX$78.0
34.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.34₩3,467
$1.43MX$24.94
63.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.54₩5,256
$1.88MX$32.97
88.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.11₩4,616
$1.63MX$28.50
90.80%
Eggs
$2.89₩4,290
$2.64MX$46.26
9.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.53₩15.6K
$8.21MX$144
28.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.41₩12.5K
$8.29MX$145
1.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.77₩41.2K
$11.10MX$194
150.18%
Apples(1kg)
$8.49₩12.6K
$2.65MX$46.40
220.38%
Banana(1kg)
$3.12₩4,624
$1.50MX$26.26
108.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.43₩11.0K
$1.99MX$34.79
273.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.18₩7,681
$2.08MX$36.33
149.04%
Potato(1kg)
$5.21₩7,729
$1.79MX$31.29
191.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92₩4,324
$2.18MX$38.09
33.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10₩3,121
$1.08MX$18.84
94.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20₩1,781
$1.04MX$18.15
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39₩5,022
$3.97MX$69.5
-14.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.24₩25.6K
$10.20MX$179
69.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71₩2,534
$1.73MX$30.22
-1.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37₩4,994
$2.50MX$43.71
34.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06₩1,574
$0.52MX$9.07
103.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56₩5,281
$3.14MX$55.0
13.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79₩1,173
$2.40MX$42.04
-67.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.74₩24.8K
$3.09MX$54.0
441.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₩1,817
$1.27MX$22.28
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K₩41.3M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-9.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K₩36.4M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
5.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188₩279.0K
$82.0MX$1,435
129.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.50₩73.4K
$22.45MX$393
120.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.76₩41.2K
$29.66MX$519
-6.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.01₩69.7K
$51.9MX$908
-9.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.43₩16.9K
$4.97MX$87.0
129.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$496₩735.4K
$198MX$3,462
150.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K₩21.2M
$5,273MX$92.3K
170.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₩153.9K
$36.34MX$636
185.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40₩70.3K
$40.05MX$701
18.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8₩130.2K
$79.9MX$1,398
9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118₩175.5K
$88.9MX$1,555
33.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$452₩669.9K
$963MX$16.9K
-53.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370₩549.0K
$465MX$8,133
-20.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,059₩1.6M
$1,596MX$27.9K
-33.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762₩1.1M
$1,209MX$21.2K
-36.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,654₩14.3M
$3,942MX$69.0K
144.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,717₩8.5M
$6,448MX$112.8K
-11.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gongju
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,168₩1.7M
$720MX$12.6K
62.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.22
11.42
-63.05%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Gongju: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Gongju versus $963 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 62% higher in Gongju, 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 $37.00 in Gongju versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $451 in Gongju vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Gongju vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Gongju and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,513 in Gongju, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 18% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Gongju compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,269 per month in Gongju and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Gongju and 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Gongju or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,513 in Gongju and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gongju and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Gongju and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Gongju at $1,513. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Gongju and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $1,513 in Gongju. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Gongju or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Gongju and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.