🙂A single person spends $634 per month in Grand Bois vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Grand Bois vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,450 per month in Grand Bois vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Grand Bois is about 50% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Grand Bois and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Grand Bois54% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.67MUR 269
$11.60MX$199
-51.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.87MUR 1,846
$47.11MX$809
-17.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.55MUR 359
$11.88MX$204
-36.45%
Cappuccino
$2.60MUR 124
$3.98MX$68.2
-34.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MUR 56.2
$1.43MX$24.49
-17.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MUR 29.56
$0.82MX$14.16
-24.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MUR 127
$3.19MX$54.7
-16.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MUR 230
$6.79MX$117
-28.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54MUR 73.1
$1.68MX$28.76
-8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78MUR 37.23
$2.20MX$37.71
-64.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15MUR 54.6
$1.71MX$29.32
-32.75%
Eggs
$2.66MUR 126
$2.74MX$47.05
-2.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.22MUR 248
$9.58MX$164
-45.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55MUR 311
$9.01MX$155
-27.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.39MUR 541
$12.81MX$220
-11.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76MUR 131
$2.89MX$49.58
-4.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66MUR 127
$1.50MX$25.70
77.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MUR 68.1
$2.15MX$36.87
-33.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95MUR 140
$2.26MX$38.79
30.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MUR 47.08
$1.98MX$34.00
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MUR 47.04
$1.99MX$34.15
-50.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73MUR 34.84
$1.23MX$21.18
-40.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85MUR 40.26
$1.20MX$20.54
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44MUR 306
$4.55MX$78.1
41.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.53MUR 405
$10.37MX$178
-17.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MUR 77.0
$1.62MX$27.79
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38MUR 113
$2.88MX$49.44
-17.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$494
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.33MUR 206
$5.39MX$92.5
-19.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22MUR 153
$3.73MX$64.0
-13.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.27MUR 1,010
$5.77MX$99.0
268.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MUR 66.0
$1.54MX$26.37
-9.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KMUR 1.7M
$22.5KMX$387.0K
63.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KMUR 1.5M
$26.1KMX$447.3K
19.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.39MUR 2,156
$91.4MX$1,569
-50.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.45MUR 496
$25.20MX$433
-58.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.48MUR 1,400
$31.24MX$536
-5.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,154
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MUR 294
$4.86MX$83.5
27.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MUR 6,013
$224MX$3,839
-43.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,698MUR 365.6K
$4,229MX$72.6K
82.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1MUR 3,663
$47.10MX$808
63.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.0MUR 3,560
$44.29MX$760
69.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119MUR 5,661
$80.1MX$1,375
48.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1MUR 3,759
$92.7MX$1,591
-14.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,698
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$36.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Bois
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.45
-41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand Bois: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Grand Bois versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $276 – making Grand Bois 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
Grand Bois vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Grand Bois?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $951 per month in Grand Bois and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Grand Bois and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $634 in Grand Bois and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $127 per month in Grand Bois and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Grand Bois or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Grand Bois, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Grand Bois it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Grand Bois or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Grand Bois – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Grand Bois or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Grand Bois. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Grand Bois vs other spots: cost of living compared