😐A single person spends $1,449 per month in Gradac vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Gradac vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Gradac vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Gradac costs about 12% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Gradac sits 8% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.69€10.91
$11.73MX$203
8.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$41.62MX$720
66.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.07€7.80
$10.64MX$184
-14.76%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.04
$3.52MX$60.9
-32.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.58
$1.51MX$26.12
98.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$0.97MX$16.84
121.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.63€3.12
$2.95MX$51.0
23.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85€3.31
$4.45MX$77.0
-13.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$1.38MX$23.93
-10.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.39
$1.89MX$32.72
-14.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96€2.55
$1.64MX$28.32
80.49%
Eggs
$3.51€3.02
$2.51MX$43.34
39.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.19€9.63
$8.34MX$144
34.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.13
$8.34MX$144
13.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.30€9.72
$10.73MX$186
5.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$2.60MX$45.04
-35.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.46MX$25.20
17.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.90MX$32.87
-7.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$2.08MX$35.91
23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19€1.03
$1.78MX$30.71
-33.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.02
$2.19MX$37.80
-46.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20€1.04
$1.04MX$17.99
15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.02
$1.08MX$18.62
10.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48€4.72
$4.08MX$70.6
34.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51€6.46
$10.32MX$178
-27.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.22
$1.71MX$29.61
-17.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.76
$2.58MX$44.54
-20.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.52
$0.51MX$8.81
245.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.14€36.25
$26.46MX$458
59.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.63
$3.26MX$56.4
-6.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13€0.97
$2.49MX$43.09
-54.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.86€7.62
$3.25MX$56.2
172.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.53
$1.31MX$22.61
35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
28.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K€22.2K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
10.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190€164
$82.9MX$1,433
129.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.43€19.30
$22.22MX$384
0.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.10€28.47
$29.34MX$507
12.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8€45.37
$51.6MX$893
2.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.87€12.79
$18.32MX$317
-18.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17€7.03
$5.07MX$87.6
61.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$253€217
$201MX$3,473
25.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,973€6,858
$5,212MX$90.1K
52.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100.0€86.0
$36.92MX$639
170.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.51€33.99
$39.79MX$688
-0.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.5€84.7
$78.5MX$1,357
25.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€89.5
$87.1MX$1,506
19.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675€581
$973MX$16.8K
-30.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459€395
$468MX$8,090
-1.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,059€911
$1,641MX$28.4K
-35.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778€669
$1,221MX$21.1K
-36.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,077€3,507
$3,946MX$68.3K
3.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,862€2,462
$6,498MX$112.4K
-55.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gradac
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,675€1,441
$664MX$11.5K
152.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
11.42
-61.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gradac: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $675 in Gradac versus $973 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 152% higher in Gradac, 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 $69.0 in Gradac versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $249 – 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
Gradac vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gradac or Playa del Carmen?
Gradac costs about 12% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gradac vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,174 per month in Gradac and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gradac or 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Gradac or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Gradac, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Gradac vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Gradac and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gradac or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Gradac at $1,449. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gradac it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gradac or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,449 in Gradac. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gradac compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Gradac or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gradac makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.