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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,487 per month in Gongju vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Gongju vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,155 per month in Gongju vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gongju costs about 18% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gongju sits 12% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.20 ₩10.4K

$11.72 MX$203

-38.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.75 ₩52.9K

$41.89 MX$725

-12.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.10 ₩8,772

$10.51 MX$182

-41.96%

Cappuccino

$4.09 ₩5,887

$3.59 MX$62.0

13.93%

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

$1.89 ₩2,719

$1.51 MX$26.10

25.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩1,991

$0.92 MX$15.83

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 ₩5,370

$2.96 MX$51.2

26.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 ₩8,404

$4.41 MX$76.3

32.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,324

$1.40 MX$24.16

65.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 ₩5,028

$1.88 MX$32.60

86.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 ₩4,416

$1.56 MX$26.97

96.79%

Eggs

$2.98 ₩4,279

$2.61 MX$45.14

14.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 ₩15.2K

$8.32 MX$144

26.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.28 ₩11.9K

$8.35 MX$145

-0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.72 ₩39.9K

$10.86 MX$188

155.25%

Apples (1kg)

$8.44 ₩12.1K

$2.71 MX$46.93

211.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 ₩4,673

$1.51 MX$26.04

115.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.32 ₩10.5K

$1.87 MX$32.41

291.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.16 ₩7,421

$2.19 MX$37.89

135.62%

Potato (1kg)

$5.21 ₩7,495

$1.86 MX$32.14

180.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₩4,391

$2.23 MX$38.59

36.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₩2,895

$1.07 MX$18.48

87.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₩1,663

$1.09 MX$18.79

6.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,866

$4.19 MX$72.4

-19.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.22 ₩24.8K

$10.43 MX$180

65.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₩2,458

$1.66 MX$28.68

3.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 ₩5,022

$2.61 MX$45.19

33.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,523

$0.54 MX$9.37

96.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₩5,028

$3.08 MX$53.3

13.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ₩1,231

$2.40 MX$41.61

-64.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.27 ₩23.4K

$3.13 MX$54.1

419.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ₩1,732

$1.31 MX$22.69

-8.40%

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

$27.5K ₩39.6M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-7.62%

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

$25.4K ₩36.5M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

8.80%

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

$193 ₩277.6K

$81.3 MX$1,406

137.48%

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

$50.5 ₩72.6K

$22.56 MX$390

123.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.04 ₩40.3K

$30.05 MX$520

-6.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.28 ₩69.4K

$52.9 MX$915

-8.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 ₩16.5K

$4.92 MX$85.1

132.52%

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

$489 ₩703.0K

$201 MX$3,474

143.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ₩20.7M

$5,175 MX$89.5K

178.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩145.9K

$35.92 MX$622

182.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.42 ₩68.2K

$40.13 MX$694

18.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₩125.9K

$79.7 MX$1,379

9.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₩172.4K

$86.5 MX$1,496

38.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₩658.8K

$978 MX$16.9K

-53.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ₩533.0K

$470 MX$8,140

-21.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 ₩1.5M

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-35.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₩1.1M

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-37.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,330 ₩10.5M

$3,953 MX$68.4K

85.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,084 ₩7.3M

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-23.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,175 ₩1.7M

$677 MX$11.7K

73.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

11.42

-63.05%

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

Last update for Gongju: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Gongju versus $978 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 74% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Gongju vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,487 in Gongju, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 18% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,231 per month in Gongju and $1,890 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,487 in Gongju and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Gongju and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Gongju at $1,487. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $1,487 in Gongju. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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.