🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $914 in Grand-Gaube versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,474 in Grand-Gaube versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,034 in Grand-Gaube versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Grand-Gaube costs roughly 30% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Grand-Gaube32% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.75MUR 319
$11.73MX$203
-42.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.65MUR 2,062
$41.62MX$720
4.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.99MUR 330
$10.64MX$184
-34.30%
Cappuccino
$2.57MUR 122
$3.52MX$60.9
-26.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MUR 47.73
$1.51MX$26.12
-33.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MUR 26.33
$0.97MX$16.84
-42.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23MUR 106
$2.95MX$51.0
-24.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39MUR 160
$4.45MX$77.0
-23.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08MUR 51.2
$1.38MX$23.93
-21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.84
$1.89MX$32.72
-65.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MUR 59.7
$1.64MX$28.32
-23.17%
Eggs
$2.05MUR 97.0
$2.51MX$43.34
-18.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.08MUR 571
$8.34MX$144
44.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20MUR 151
$8.34MX$144
-61.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70MUR 600
$10.73MX$186
18.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.28MUR 60.6
$2.60MX$45.04
-50.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MUR 71.0
$1.46MX$25.20
2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MUR 61.7
$1.90MX$32.87
-31.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12MUR 52.9
$2.08MX$35.91
-46.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.67
$1.78MX$30.71
-42.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85MUR 40.33
$2.19MX$37.80
-61.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MUR 39.36
$1.04MX$17.99
-20.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MUR 25.37
$1.08MX$18.62
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53MUR 308
$4.08MX$70.6
60.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.26MUR 296
$10.32MX$178
-39.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25MUR 59.0
$1.71MX$29.61
-26.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14MUR 101
$2.58MX$44.54
-17.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MUR 48.87
$0.51MX$8.81
101.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46MUR 211
$3.26MX$56.4
36.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.61MUR 124
$2.49MX$43.09
4.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.05MUR 947
$3.25MX$56.2
516.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 66.3
$1.31MX$22.61
6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KMUR 1.7M
$30.3KMX$523.7K
18.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
$23.4KMX$405.3K
21.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.93MUR 2,359
$82.9MX$1,433
-39.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.02MUR 851
$22.22MX$384
-18.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.01MUR 1,607
$29.34MX$507
15.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.16MUR 1,803
$51.6MX$893
-26.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.17MUR 292
$5.07MX$87.6
21.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$65.1MUR 3,077
$201MX$3,473
-67.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,957MUR 186.9K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-24.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.34MUR 1,244
$36.92MX$639
-28.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.92MUR 1,225
$39.79MX$688
-34.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.0MUR 3,069
$78.5MX$1,357
-17.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.49MUR 1,582
$87.1MX$1,506
-61.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508MUR 24.0K
$973MX$16.8K
-47.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354MUR 16.7K
$468MX$8,090
-24.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MUR 45.5K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-41.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MUR 34.0K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-40.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand-Gaube: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Grand-Gaube and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Grand-Gaube vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $249, with Grand-Gaube 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
Grand-Gaube vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Grand-Gaube and Playa del Carmen?
Grand-Gaube and Playa del Carmen differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($914 vs $1,297 including rent). Grand-Gaube is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Grand-Gaube compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,370 in Grand-Gaube and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Grand-Gaube and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Grand-Gaube versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Grand-Gaube or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $914 per month in Grand-Gaube versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $914 in Grand-Gaube versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand-Gaube but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Grand-Gaube the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Grand-Gaube and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Grand-Gaube or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Grand-Gaube and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Grand-Gaube or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Grand-Gaube gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Grand-Gaube vs other spots: cost of living compared