🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $619 in Gresik versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $964 in Gresik versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,308 in Gresik versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Gresik costs roughly 51% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Gresik54% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.22Rp 21.9K
$11.95MX$209
-89.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.01Rp 197.5K
$41.94MX$734
-73.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.11Rp 55.7K
$10.42MX$182
-70.15%
Cappuccino
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$3.51MX$61.5
-57.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39Rp 6,933
$1.52MX$26.53
-74.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19Rp 3,492
$0.91MX$15.93
-79.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$3.04MX$53.2
-48.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$4.37MX$76.5
-45.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.42MX$24.86
-18.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 19.4K
$1.83MX$32.03
-40.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.63MX$28.60
-51.53%
Eggs
$1.30Rp 23.3K
$2.54MX$44.43
-48.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82Rp 158.1K
$8.57MX$150
2.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 55.3K
$8.49MX$149
-63.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.65Rp 119.4K
$10.80MX$189
-38.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 41.0K
$2.75MX$48.19
-16.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.5K
$1.44MX$25.13
2.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.7K
$1.89MX$33.00
16.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$2.17MX$37.96
-34.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.6K
$1.78MX$31.13
-25.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$2.22MX$38.91
-20.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14Rp 20.4K
$1.07MX$18.70
6.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,511
$1.08MX$18.89
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05Rp 36.8K
$4.15MX$72.5
-50.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.11Rp 199.3K
$10.45MX$183
6.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20Rp 21.6K
$1.74MX$30.50
-31.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36Rp 42.3K
$2.58MX$45.16
-8.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,776
$0.51MX$8.98
-37.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.90Rp 177.5K
$25.94MX$454
-61.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,975
$3.21MX$56.2
-86.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,579
$2.50MX$43.78
-87.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.77Rp 49.8K
$3.19MX$55.7
-13.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.58Rp 10.4K
$1.26MX$21.98
-53.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 379.9M
$29.7KMX$519.3K
-28.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KRp 623.4M
$23.7KMX$414.3K
46.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.4Rp 1.5M
$82.0MX$1,435
1.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18Rp 75.0K
$22.73MX$398
-81.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.84Rp 355.8K
$29.42MX$515
-32.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.52Rp 403.9K
$52.2MX$913
-56.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.16Rp 110.5K
$18.45MX$323
-66.61%
Cinema Ticket
$2.51Rp 45.0K
$4.93MX$86.3
-49.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$20.02Rp 359.1K
$202MX$3,530
-90.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,284Rp 166.5M
$5,217MX$91.3K
77.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.14Rp 773.7K
$35.93MX$629
20.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.63Rp 441.7K
$40.33MX$706
-38.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$79.9MX$1,397
-9.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8Rp 1.2M
$89.3MX$1,562
-24.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.6M
$948MX$16.6K
-73.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$465MX$8,140
-66.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.5M
$1,630MX$28.5K
-64.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 5.9M
$1,193MX$20.9K
-72.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,317Rp 23.6M
$3,933MX$68.8K
-66.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$694Rp 12.4M
$6,428MX$112.4K
-89.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gresik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$175Rp 3.1M
$658MX$11.5K
-73.47%
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: July 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Gresik and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 277% 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: $11.00 in Gresik vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 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 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gresik or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 277% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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: $255 in Gresik versus $948 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% 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 in 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 living in Gresik or in Playa del Carmen?
At $619 in Gresik versus $1,259 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 103% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.