😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,766 in Goyave versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,000 in Goyave versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,235 in Goyave versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Goyave is roughly 40% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Goyave is 32% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.67MX$202
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.88MX$726
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.40MX$180
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.61MX$62.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.47MX$25.45
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.91MX$15.80
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03MX$52.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.47MX$77.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.45
$1.38MX$23.83
23.19%
White Bread(500g)
$8.90€7.59
$1.84MX$31.93
383.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$9.09€7.76
$1.61MX$27.82
464.60%
Eggs
$11.54€9.84
$2.57MX$44.52
349.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.49MX$147
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.33€14.78
$8.49MX$147
104.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$39.86€34.00
$10.99MX$190
262.69%
Apples(1kg)
$7.03€6.00
$2.73MX$47.25
157.51%
Banana(1kg)
$3.57€3.05
$1.50MX$25.92
138.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.18€5.27
$1.96MX$33.93
215.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.79€5.79
$2.12MX$36.70
220.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26€1.92
$1.86MX$32.30
21.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77€1.51
$2.17MX$37.67
-18.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.72€4.03
$1.07MX$18.59
341.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.95
$1.05MX$18.18
118.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.19MX$72.6
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.47€14.90
$10.28MX$178
69.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.67MX$28.87
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49MX$43.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.54MX$9.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.10MX$53.8
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.46MX$42.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.24MX$56.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.79
$1.26MX$21.83
65.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.4KMX$406.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177€151
$84.0MX$1,456
110.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.66€9.94
$22.21MX$385
-47.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6€49.10
$29.65MX$514
94.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.6MX$912
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.95MX$85.7
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$198MX$3,438
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,322MX$92.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$35.95MX$623
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.06MX$694
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$78.8MX$1,365
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.5MX$1,499
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582€496
$977MX$16.9K
-40.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908€775
$471MX$8,158
92.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,709€1,458
$1,595MX$27.6K
7.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,553€2,178
$1,215MX$21.1K
110.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,461€2,099
$4,032MX$69.9K
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,013€2,570
$6,579MX$114.0K
-54.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goyave
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,255€1,924
$714MX$12.4K
215.81%
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $582 in Goyave and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Goyave pays 216% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $0 in Goyave vs $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $602 vs $252, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Goyave or Playa del Carmen?
Goyave pays 216% 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: $582 in Goyave versus $977 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 139% 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 $1,766 per month in Goyave versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – a 40% 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,766 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 40% less than in Goyave. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.