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 $1,484 per month in Gongju vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,360 per month in Gongju vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,236 per month in Gongju vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gongju costs about 15% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gongju sits 11% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.25 ₩11.0K

$11.73 MX$202

-38.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.82 ₩55.6K

$41.78 MX$719

-11.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ₩9,242

$10.41 MX$179

-41.21%

Cappuccino

$4.20 ₩6,343

$3.61 MX$62.1

16.34%

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

$1.87 ₩2,828

$1.46 MX$25.06

28.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₩2,088

$0.97 MX$16.70

42.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 ₩5,707

$2.92 MX$50.3

29.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 ₩8,671

$4.62 MX$79.5

24.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₩3,419

$1.43 MX$24.59

58.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 ₩5,374

$1.90 MX$32.70

87.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,565

$1.57 MX$26.95

92.36%

Eggs

$2.89 ₩4,360

$2.64 MX$45.34

9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.59 ₩16.0K

$8.44 MX$145

25.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 ₩12.8K

$8.58 MX$148

-1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.49 ₩41.5K

$11.00 MX$189

149.91%

Apples (1kg)

$8.48 ₩12.8K

$2.70 MX$46.51

214.07%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 ₩4,689

$1.51 MX$25.92

105.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.50 ₩11.3K

$1.91 MX$32.93

292.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.36 ₩8,099

$2.17 MX$37.37

147.00%

Potato (1kg)

$5.02 ₩7,585

$1.87 MX$32.25

168.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 ₩4,636

$2.23 MX$38.43

37.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩3,024

$1.08 MX$18.60

85.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,734

$1.07 MX$18.47

7.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₩5,064

$4.16 MX$71.6

-19.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.37 ₩24.7K

$10.29 MX$177

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ₩2,560

$1.68 MX$28.95

0.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ₩5,036

$2.53 MX$43.59

31.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,688

$0.55 MX$9.53

103.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ₩5,250

$3.20 MX$55.0

8.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ₩1,198

$2.46 MX$42.37

-67.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.24 ₩24.5K

$3.20 MX$55.0

407.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₩1,829

$1.32 MX$22.72

-8.33%

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

$27.6K ₩41.7M

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-8.38%

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

$24.5K ₩37.0M

$23.4K MX$402.5K

4.67%

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

$193 ₩291.4K

$81.4 MX$1,400

137.07%

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

$51.2 ₩77.3K

$22.41 MX$386

128.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.99 ₩42.3K

$29.97 MX$516

-6.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₩73.5K

$51.6 MX$887

-5.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 ₩17.3K

$5.16 MX$88.9

122.48%

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

$496 ₩749.3K

$202 MX$3,471

145.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₩21.0M

$5,311 MX$91.4K

161.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₩156.8K

$35.61 MX$613

191.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.79 ₩72.2K

$40.37 MX$695

18.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 ₩133.9K

$78.6 MX$1,353

12.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₩177.7K

$86.9 MX$1,495

35.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₩693.0K

$950 MX$16.3K

-51.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₩568.0K

$478 MX$8,227

-21.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 ₩1.6M

$1,621 MX$27.9K

-35.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₩1.1M

$1,223 MX$21.0K

-38.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,713 ₩14.7M

$4,009 MX$69.0K

142.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,313 ₩8.0M

$6,473 MX$111.4K

-17.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,152 ₩1.7M

$673 MX$11.6K

71.13%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Gongju versus $950 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 71% 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 – $447 in Gongju vs $254 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: $1,484 in Gongju, $1,294 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 15% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,227 per month in Gongju and $1,941 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 $1,484 in Gongju and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Gongju and $202 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 $1,294, than in Gongju at $1,484. 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 $1,294 in Playa del Carmen to $1,484 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.