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 $1,048 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Guayaquil vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,288 per month in Guayaquil vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Guayaquil is about 19% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Guayaquil and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$11.73 MX$203

-69.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.91 $46.91

$41.62 MX$720

12.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 $7.78

$10.64 MX$184

-26.88%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$3.52 MX$60.9

-28.69%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$1.51 MX$26.12

-43.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.97 MX$16.84

-32.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.95 MX$51.0

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.45 MX$77.0

3.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.38 MX$23.93

-17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.89 MX$32.72

-6.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.64 MX$28.32

4.27%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$2.51 MX$43.34

4.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$8.34 MX$144

-27.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$8.34 MX$144

-38.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$10.73 MX$186

-41.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.60 MX$45.04

-20.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.46 MX$25.20

4.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.90 MX$32.87

-44.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$2.08 MX$35.91

-42.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.78 MX$30.71

6.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.19 MX$37.80

-32.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$1.04 MX$17.99

-32.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.08 MX$18.62

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.08 MX$70.6

46.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.32 MX$178

15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 MX$29.61

-8.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.58 MX$44.54

-17.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.51 MX$8.81

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.55 $20.55

$26.46 MX$458

-22.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.26 MX$56.4

-17.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.49 MX$43.09

8.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 $10.06

$3.25 MX$56.2

209.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.31 MX$22.61

-51.15%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-16.47%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

24.42%

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

$111 $111

$82.9 MX$1,433

33.35%

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

$13.65 $13.65

$22.22 MX$384

-38.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.09 $32.09

$29.34 MX$507

9.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.42 $35.42

$51.6 MX$893

-31.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.79 $46.79

$18.32 MX$317

155.40%

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 $7.96

$5.07 MX$87.6

57.00%

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

$319 $319

$201 MX$3,473

58.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,838 $5,838

$5,212 MX$90.1K

12.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$36.92 MX$639

39.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.04 $44.04

$39.79 MX$688

10.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$78.5 MX$1,357

31.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$87.1 MX$1,506

29.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$973 MX$16.8K

-65.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$468 MX$8,090

-21.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-69.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 $694

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-43.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-41.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,469 $1,469

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-77.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 $584

$664 MX$11.5K

-12.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.42

-18.13%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $973 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 14% 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 $47.00 in Guayaquil versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Guayaquil vs $249 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 24%, 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 $1,572 per month in Guayaquil and $1,945 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 $319 per month in Guayaquil and $201 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 26% 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 $1,048, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.