😐A single person spends $1,462 per month in Guadalupe vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,482 per month in Guadalupe vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,502 per month in Guadalupe vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Guadalupe costs about 12% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Guadalupe sits 6% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.27₡5,046
$11.96MX$203
-5.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.65₡15.1K
$47.38MX$805
-28.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.79₡3,935
$11.75MX$200
-25.19%
Cappuccino
$3.39₡1,519
$4.12MX$70.1
-17.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27₡1,017
$1.40MX$23.78
62.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95₡871
$0.91MX$15.50
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26₡1,461
$3.21MX$54.5
1.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35₡1,947
$7.07MX$120
-38.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29₡1,024
$1.68MX$28.49
36.31%
White Bread(500g)
$3.18₡1,425
$2.15MX$36.53
47.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.53₡1,132
$1.77MX$30.14
42.94%
Eggs
$3.50₡1,568
$2.82MX$47.83
24.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08₡4,512
$9.20MX$156
9.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.08₡4,511
$9.23MX$157
9.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.04₡6,284
$12.64MX$215
11.08%
Apples(1kg)
$5.16₡2,310
$2.95MX$50.1
74.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68₡751
$1.58MX$26.83
6.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.73₡2,116
$2.22MX$37.76
113.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.88₡1,735
$2.36MX$40.15
64.41%
Potato(1kg)
$4.00₡1,788
$1.99MX$33.86
101.01%
Onion(1kg)
$3.75₡1,679
$1.98MX$33.63
89.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12₡503
$1.24MX$21.07
-9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.13₡1,403
$1.21MX$20.58
158.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41₡1,973
$4.60MX$78.2
-4.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.64₡9,236
$10.52MX$179
96.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95₡1,322
$1.69MX$28.74
74.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71₡1,659
$2.77MX$47.13
33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31₡589
$0.60MX$10.24
118.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$505
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.08₡933
$5.24MX$89.0
-60.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.62₡727
$3.65MX$62.0
-55.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.98₡4,021
$5.78MX$98.3
55.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42₡636
$1.54MX$26.13
-7.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K₡9.8M
$22.8KMX$387.4K
-3.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K₡15.8M
$25.8KMX$438.5K
37.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.63₡16.4K
$90.7MX$1,540
-59.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.50₡11.9K
$25.19MX$428
5.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2₡25.1K
$31.75MX$539
76.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$72.8₡32.6K
$68.8MX$1,169
5.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$499
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.36₡3,740
$4.86MX$82.6
72.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$992₡444.2K
$226MX$3,834
339.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.6K₡7.9M
$4,194MX$71.2K
318.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3₡32.4K
$47.38MX$805
52.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29₡19.8K
$43.45MX$738
1.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132₡59.3K
$80.2MX$1,363
65.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5₡44.5K
$91.4MX$1,552
8.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806₡360.7K
$1,086MX$18.4K
-25.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$476₡213.1K
$409MX$6,943
16.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,859₡832.1K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-5.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272₡569.3K
$1,281MX$21.8K
-0.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,046MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$392₡175.4K
$6,704MX$113.9K
-94.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guadalupe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,221₡546.3K
$773MX$13.1K
57.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.78
11.45
-23.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guadalupe: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $806 in Guadalupe versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 58% higher in Guadalupe, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Guadalupe versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Guadalupe vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Guadalupe vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Guadalupe and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,462 in Guadalupe, $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 12% apart. Guadalupe costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Guadalupe compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,194 per month in Guadalupe and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Guadalupe and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Guadalupe and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Guadalupe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Guadalupe at $1,462. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guadalupe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Guadalupe and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,305 in Playa del Carmen to $1,462 in Guadalupe. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Guadalupe or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Guadalupe and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guadalupe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.