🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $897 in Grand-Gaube versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Grand-Gaube versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,066 in Grand-Gaube versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Grand-Gaube costs roughly 29% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Grand-Gaube33% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71MUR 315
$11.99MX$210
-44.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.47MUR 2,089
$41.78MX$733
6.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94MUR 326
$10.75MX$189
-35.44%
Cappuccino
$2.67MUR 125
$3.50MX$61.3
-23.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MUR 44.51
$1.45MX$25.41
-34.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MUR 26.43
$0.88MX$15.52
-36.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18MUR 102
$2.95MX$51.7
-26.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28MUR 154
$4.51MX$79.1
-27.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09MUR 51.2
$1.43MX$25.12
-23.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 30.82
$1.84MX$32.23
-64.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MUR 62.2
$1.57MX$27.51
-15.92%
Eggs
$2.14MUR 100
$2.51MX$44.06
-14.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.97MUR 563
$8.28MX$145
44.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.36MUR 158
$8.43MX$148
-60.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.63MUR 593
$10.68MX$187
18.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.29MUR 60.4
$2.61MX$45.76
-50.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MUR 70.4
$1.44MX$25.22
4.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34MUR 62.9
$1.96MX$34.41
-31.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08MUR 50.9
$2.09MX$36.74
-48.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MUR 48.11
$1.85MX$32.47
-44.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86MUR 40.29
$2.17MX$38.02
-60.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85MUR 40.03
$1.03MX$18.09
-17.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MUR 25.15
$1.07MX$18.84
-49.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.69MUR 315
$4.10MX$72.0
63.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.30MUR 296
$10.17MX$178
-38.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MUR 56.5
$1.68MX$29.38
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24MUR 105
$2.53MX$44.31
-11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00MUR 46.81
$0.51MX$8.93
96.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35MUR 204
$3.23MX$56.7
34.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.70MUR 127
$2.41MX$42.19
12.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.11MUR 945
$3.23MX$56.6
522.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MUR 66.0
$1.32MX$23.17
6.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
$29.7KMX$520.9K
19.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMUR 1.4M
$23.7KMX$415.0K
22.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.85MUR 2,342
$82.0MX$1,439
-39.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.37MUR 863
$22.95MX$403
-19.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.34MUR 1,566
$30.11MX$528
10.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.84MUR 1,778
$52.0MX$912
-27.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.98MUR 281
$4.98MX$87.3
20.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$67.2MUR 3,157
$197MX$3,463
-65.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,928MUR 184.5K
$5,336MX$93.6K
-26.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.21MUR 1,231
$35.60MX$624
-26.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.53MUR 1,246
$40.33MX$707
-34.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.1MUR 3,106
$78.8MX$1,381
-16.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.37MUR 1,521
$88.9MX$1,560
-63.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$517MUR 24.3K
$947MX$16.6K
-45.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353MUR 16.6K
$474MX$8,314
-25.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$936MUR 44.0K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-43.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MUR 33.3K
$1,211MX$21.2K
-41.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand-Gaube
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $517 in Grand-Gaube and $947 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 $186 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Grand-Gaube and Playa del Carmen differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($897 vs $1,256 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 $1,345 in Grand-Gaube and $1,884 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $517 in Grand-Gaube versus $947 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 34% 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 $897 per month in Grand-Gaube versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 40% 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 $897 in Grand-Gaube versus $1,256 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 40% 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