😐A single person spends $2,565 per month in Gosford vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,634 per month in Gosford vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,703 per month in Gosford vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Gosford costs about 104% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Gosford sits 93% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.37A$23.23
$11.72MX$203
39.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3A$112
$41.89MX$725
89.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.02A$14.22
$10.51MX$182
-4.66%
Cappuccino
$3.34A$4.73
$3.59MX$62.0
-6.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45A$3.47
$1.51MX$26.10
62.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02A$2.86
$0.92MX$15.83
119.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.48A$7.78
$2.96MX$51.2
85.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.77A$9.61
$4.41MX$76.3
53.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62A$2.29
$1.40MX$24.16
15.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79A$3.96
$1.88MX$32.60
48.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76A$2.49
$1.56MX$26.97
12.82%
Eggs
$4.82A$6.84
$2.61MX$45.14
84.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59A$12.18
$8.32MX$144
3.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.23A$11.68
$8.35MX$145
-1.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.42A$16.21
$10.86MX$188
5.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24A$4.59
$2.71MX$46.93
19.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69A$3.81
$1.51MX$26.04
78.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65A$3.76
$1.87MX$32.41
41.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51A$6.40
$2.19MX$37.89
105.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50A$3.55
$1.86MX$32.14
34.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70A$2.42
$2.23MX$38.59
-23.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90A$2.69
$1.07MX$18.48
77.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28A$1.82
$1.09MX$18.79
17.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.75A$36.54
$4.19MX$72.4
514.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.40A$14.76
$10.43MX$180
-0.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.64A$6.59
$1.66MX$28.68
179.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44A$7.72
$2.61MX$45.19
108.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.20A$4.54
$0.54MX$9.37
492.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$140A$198
$26.16MX$453
433.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.84A$5.46
$3.08MX$53.3
24.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55A$2.19
$2.40MX$41.61
-35.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.4A$72.9
$3.13MX$54.1
1542.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23A$1.75
$1.31MX$22.69
-6.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KA$40.4K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-4.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KA$31.3K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
-5.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204A$290
$81.3MX$1,406
151.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.87A$33.87
$22.56MX$390
5.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.35A$68.6
$30.05MX$520
60.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.8A$86.2
$52.9MX$915
14.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.24A$27.30
$18.39MX$318
4.62%
Cinema Ticket
$11.22A$15.93
$4.92MX$85.1
128.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$782A$1,110
$201MX$3,474
289.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7KA$26.5K
$5,175MX$89.5K
260.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4A$92.7
$35.92MX$622
81.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7A$83.3
$40.13MX$694
46.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.9A$140
$79.7MX$1,379
24.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134A$190
$86.5MX$1,496
54.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,790A$2,540
$978MX$16.9K
83.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,283A$1,821
$470MX$8,140
172.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109A$2,993
$1,651MX$28.6K
27.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,792A$2,543
$1,203MX$20.8K
48.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,713A$9,525
$3,953MX$68.4K
69.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,314A$6,121
$6,607MX$114.3K
-34.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gosford
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,967A$4,210
$677MX$11.7K
338.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.42
-44.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gosford: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,790 in Gosford 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 339% higher in Gosford, 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 $79.0 in Gosford versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $252 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Gosford vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Gosford and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,565 in Gosford, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 104% apart. Gosford costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Gosford compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,848 per month in Gosford and $1,890 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 Gosford 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gosford and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $782 per month in Gosford and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Gosford, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,260, than in Gosford at $2,565. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gosford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Gosford and Playa del Carmen?
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 $2,565 in Gosford. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Gosford 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 Gosford 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, Gosford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.