Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Guanacaste is 14.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Guanacaste is 17.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.07 ₡5,044
$11.99 MX$227
-16.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.59 ₡21.8K
$42.47 MX$803
2.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.1 ₡5,055
$10.47 MX$198
-3.53%
Cappuccino
$3.93 ₡1,969
$3.6 MX$68.2
9.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ₡1,041
$1.44 MX$27.16
44.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₡788
$0.89 MX$16.79
76.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 ₡1,482
$3.09 MX$58.5
-4.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 ₡2,061
$4.58 MX$86.6
-10.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.8 ₡902
$1.38 MX$26.04
30.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,448
$1.85 MX$34.9
56.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ₡1,123
$1.57 MX$29.68
42.68%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,470
$2.55 MX$48.3
15.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.04 ₡2,524
$8.61 MX$163
-41.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 ₡2,020
$8.54 MX$161
-52.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.98 ₡4,998
$10.98 MX$208
-9.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 ₡1,226
$2.72 MX$51.4
-9.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 ₡722
$1.51 MX$28.57
-4.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 ₡1,964
$1.88 MX$35.63
108.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 ₡707
$2.19 MX$41.42
-35.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.45 ₡1,729
$1.87 MX$35.3
84.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 ₡978
$2.19 MX$41.37
-10.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 ₡408
$1.07 MX$20.23
-24.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 ₡1,465
$1.09 MX$20.64
168.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94 ₡1,973
$3.96 MX$74.9
-0.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.55 ₡9,288
$8.86 MX$167
109.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₡1,219
$1.72 MX$32.53
41.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ₡1,179
$2.61 MX$49.37
-9.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ₡506
$0.52 MX$9.74
94.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₡898
$3.24 MX$61.2
-44.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 ₡895
$2.38 MX$44.94
-24.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.93 ₡3,968
$3.11 MX$58.7
154.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₡706
$1.31 MX$24.85
7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$30.3K MX$573K
24.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ₡16.6M
$24K MX$453.6K
38.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.6 ₡47.3K
$84.2 MX$1,592
12.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.97 ₡13K
$22.14 MX$419
17.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.55 ₡14.8K
$30.14 MX$570
-1.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 ₡28.4K
$52 MX$983
8.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.43 ₡11.7K
$18.72 MX$354
25.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 ₡5,130
$5.07 MX$95.9
102.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ₡279.2K
$200 MX$3,787
178.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K ₡6.3M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
134.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59 ₡29.5K
$35.74 MX$676
64.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.25 ₡20.1K
$39.8 MX$753
1.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 ₡39.7K
$79 MX$1,493
0.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.4 ₡34.2K
$88.4 MX$1,671
-22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$768 ₡384.3K
$965 MX$18.3K
-20.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 ₡298.8K
$474 MX$8,968
25.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 ₡749.3K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-9.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$950 ₡475.8K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-20.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guanacaste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$792 MX$15K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
11.42
-10.95%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Guanacaste: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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