🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Gresik versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $972 in Gresik versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,314 in Gresik versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Gresik costs roughly 50% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gresik53% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.22Rp 20.9K
$11.67MX$202
-89.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.20Rp 192.5K
$41.88MX$726
-73.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.11Rp 53.4K
$10.40MX$180
-70.10%
Cappuccino
$1.50Rp 25.8K
$3.61MX$62.6
-58.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,106
$1.47MX$25.45
-75.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17Rp 2,965
$0.91MX$15.80
-81.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55Rp 26.7K
$3.03MX$52.6
-48.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39Rp 41.1K
$4.47MX$77.4
-46.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16Rp 19.9K
$1.38MX$23.83
-15.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09Rp 18.7K
$1.84MX$31.93
-40.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.61MX$27.82
-50.93%
Eggs
$1.38Rp 23.7K
$2.57MX$44.52
-46.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.71Rp 149.6K
$8.49MX$147
2.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 53.1K
$8.49MX$147
-63.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.73Rp 115.6K
$10.99MX$190
-38.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 39.7K
$2.73MX$47.25
-15.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 26.7K
$1.50MX$25.92
4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09Rp 35.9K
$1.96MX$33.93
6.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44Rp 24.7K
$2.12MX$36.70
-32.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 23.8K
$1.86MX$32.30
-25.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 30.7K
$2.17MX$37.67
-17.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13Rp 19.4K
$1.07MX$18.59
5.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,537
$1.05MX$18.18
-63.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15Rp 36.9K
$4.19MX$72.6
-48.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.88Rp 204.1K
$10.28MX$178
15.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26Rp 21.6K
$1.67MX$28.87
-24.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28Rp 39.3K
$2.49MX$43.12
-8.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,543
$0.54MX$9.37
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.80Rp 168.4K
$26.27MX$455
-62.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,290
$3.10MX$53.8
-84.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 4,983
$2.46MX$42.66
-88.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.81Rp 48.3K
$3.24MX$56.1
-13.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59Rp 10.1K
$1.26MX$21.83
-53.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7KRp 355.2M
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-31.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KRp 608.9M
$23.4KMX$406.3K
51.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.6Rp 1.5M
$84.0MX$1,456
0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 73.1K
$22.21MX$385
-80.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.63Rp 337.4K
$29.65MX$514
-33.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.21Rp 381.7K
$52.6MX$912
-57.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 103.4K
$18.34MX$318
-67.18%
Cinema Ticket
$2.48Rp 42.6K
$4.95MX$85.7
-49.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$19.75Rp 339.5K
$198MX$3,438
-90.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,248Rp 158.9M
$5,322MX$92.2K
73.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.43Rp 729.2K
$35.95MX$623
18.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.42Rp 419.7K
$40.06MX$694
-39.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8Rp 1.3M
$78.8MX$1,365
-7.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.4Rp 1.1M
$86.5MX$1,499
-23.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.5M
$977MX$16.9K
-73.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.7M
$471MX$8,158
-67.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.0M
$1,595MX$27.6K
-63.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 5.7M
$1,215MX$21.1K
-72.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,309Rp 22.5M
$4,032MX$69.9K
-67.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$761Rp 13.1M
$6,579MX$114.0K
-88.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$186Rp 3.2M
$714MX$12.4K
-73.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
11.42
-27.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gresik: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Gresik and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 284% 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: $11 in Gresik vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $252 per month, with Gresik cheaper across the board.
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
Gresik vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Gresik?
Gresik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gresik or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 284% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Gresik and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Gresik 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 Gresik and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Gresik or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Gresik – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gresik or Playa del Carmen?
At $630 in Gresik versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gresik but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gresik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gresik or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Gresik is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, 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 Gresik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.