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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,746 in Goyave versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,978 in Goyave versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,210 in Goyave versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Goyave is roughly 35% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Goyave is 30% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.73 MX$205
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.62 MX$727
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.64 MX$186
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.52 MX$61.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51 MX$26.37
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.97 MX$17.00
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95 MX$51.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45 MX$77.8
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 €1.54
$1.38 MX$24.16
28.99%
White Bread (500g)
$8.71 €7.56
$1.89 MX$33.04
360.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$9.37 €8.13
$1.64 MX$28.59
471.34%
Eggs
$11.38 €9.87
$2.51 MX$43.76
353.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.34 MX$146
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.46 €15.15
$8.34 MX$146
109.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.25 €34.92
$10.73 MX$187
275.12%
Apples (1kg)
$7.14 €6.19
$2.60 MX$45.48
174.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.45 €3.00
$1.46 MX$25.45
136.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.24 €5.41
$1.90 MX$33.19
228.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.89 €5.98
$2.08 MX$36.26
231.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 €2.03
$1.78 MX$31.01
31.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 €1.47
$2.19 MX$38.16
-22.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.73 €4.10
$1.04 MX$18.16
354.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 €1.99
$1.08 MX$18.80
112.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.08 MX$71.3
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.57 €15.24
$10.32 MX$180
70.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71 MX$29.90
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 MX$44.98
-
🚌 Getting Around
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.51 MX$8.90
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.26 MX$57.0
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.49 MX$43.51
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.25 MX$56.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.90
$1.31 MX$22.83
67.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.3K MX$528.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.4K MX$409.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 €150
$82.9 MX$1,447
108.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 €9.88
$22.22 MX$388
-48.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.2 €49.60
$29.34 MX$512
94.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.6 MX$902
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$320
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.07 MX$88.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$201 MX$3,507
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,212 MX$91.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.92 MX$645
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.79 MX$695
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$78.5 MX$1,370
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$87.1 MX$1,521
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$587 €509
$973 MX$17.0K
-39.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$939 €815
$468 MX$8,169
100.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,755 €1,523
$1,641 MX$28.7K
6.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,516 €2,182
$1,221 MX$21.3K
106.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 €2,137
$3,946 MX$68.9K
-37.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,022 €2,622
$6,498 MX$113.5K
-53.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,240 €1,944
$664 MX$11.6K
237.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
11.42
-69.35%

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

Last update for Goyave: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $587 in Goyave and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Goyave pays 237% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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
Goyave vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Goyave?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Goyave or Playa del Carmen?
Goyave pays 237% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Goyave and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $587 in Goyave versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Goyave and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 142% higher in Goyave. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Goyave vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,746 per month in Goyave versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Goyave or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,746 in Goyave, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Goyave. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Goyave or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Goyave, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Goyave. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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