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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,109 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,765 per month in Guayaquil vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,422 per month in Guayaquil vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Guayaquil is about 14% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Guayaquil and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 19% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 $4.12

$11.71 MX$199

-64.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.7 $52.7

$46.59 MX$792

13.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.10 $9.10

$11.65 MX$198

-21.89%

Cappuccino

$2.81 $2.81

$4.09 MX$69.6

-31.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.37 MX$23.35

-34.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.83 MX$14.17

-14.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.35 MX$57.0

-11.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 $4.55

$6.91 MX$117

-34.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.73 MX$29.35

-32.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.26 MX$38.41

-11.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.77 MX$30.07

-18.08%

Eggs

$2.07 $2.07

$2.73 MX$46.43

-24.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.11 $7.11

$9.18 MX$156

-22.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$8.92 MX$152

-43.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 $9.20

$12.60 MX$214

-26.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.02 MX$51.3

-49.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.57 MX$26.69

-24.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.13 MX$36.12

-53.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$2.26 MX$38.48

-60.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.00 MX$34.05

-36.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$2.06 MX$35.08

-55.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.18 MX$20.05

-30.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 MX$20.46

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.63 MX$78.8

30.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.69 MX$182

13.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.62 MX$27.52

-8.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.88 MX$48.96

-23.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.57 MX$9.74

-40.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.66 $19.66

$29.83 MX$507

-34.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$5.45 MX$92.6

-48.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.70 MX$63.0

-53.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.19 $12.19

$5.98 MX$102

103.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.55 MX$26.40

-46.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K $21.1K

$22.3K MX$379.4K

-5.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.7K $30.7K

$25.9K MX$441.0K

18.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$127 $127

$89.1 MX$1,515

42.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.97 $14.97

$25.04 MX$426

-40.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.14 $25.14

$31.50 MX$535

-20.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.01 $46.01

$67.8 MX$1,152

-32.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 $26.48

$28.92 MX$491

-8.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 $7.72

$5.05 MX$85.8

52.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$407 $407

$225 MX$3,823

81.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,935 $5,935

$4,222 MX$71.8K

40.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 $65.6

$47.44 MX$806

38.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.34 $40.34

$44.98 MX$764

-10.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 $123

$82.0 MX$1,393

49.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.5 $91.5

$92.1 MX$1,565

-0.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 $461

$1,069 MX$18.2K

-56.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 $399

$405 MX$6,888

-1.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 $803

$1,935 MX$32.9K

-58.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 $738

$1,301 MX$22.1K

-43.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,333 $2,333

$3,995 MX$67.9K

-41.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,437 $1,437

$6,626 MX$112.6K

-78.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 $611

$749 MX$12.7K

-18.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

11.45

-12.23%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $461 in Guayaquil versus $1,069 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 23% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $53.0 in Guayaquil versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Guayaquil vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – so Guayaquil 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

Guayaquil vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,663 per month in Guayaquil and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guayaquil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $407 per month in Guayaquil and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guayaquil, where all-in costs run around $1,109, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Guayaquil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guayaquil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Guayaquil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.