😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Gudja versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,817 in Gudja versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,829 in Gudja versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Gudja is roughly 38% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gudja is 31% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.97€10.32
$11.96MX$203
0.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.8€77.4
$47.38MX$804
89.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.98€12.05
$11.75MX$199
18.98%
Cappuccino
$2.30€1.98
$4.12MX$70.0
-44.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.63
$1.40MX$23.74
35.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.89
$0.91MX$15.48
13.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26€1.95
$3.21MX$54.4
-29.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27€2.82
$7.07MX$120
-53.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.14
$1.68MX$28.44
-20.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34€1.16
$2.15MX$36.48
-37.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.53
$1.77MX$30.10
65.54%
Eggs
$3.74€3.23
$2.82MX$47.76
32.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29€7.14
$9.20MX$156
-9.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.16€8.75
$9.23MX$157
10.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.06€16.43
$12.64MX$214
50.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.02
$2.95MX$50.1
-20.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.73
$1.58MX$26.79
26.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$2.22MX$37.70
16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.72€2.35
$2.36MX$40.09
15.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.99MX$33.81
-15.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$1.98MX$33.58
7.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05€0.90
$1.24MX$21.04
-15.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$1.21MX$20.55
-26.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98€5.15
$4.60MX$78.1
30.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.48€7.31
$10.52MX$178
-19.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$1.69MX$28.70
-5.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.49
$2.77MX$47.06
-37.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98€1.71
$0.60MX$10.22
230.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.66€15.22
$29.70MX$504
-40.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.88
$5.24MX$88.8
8.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.31€1.99
$3.65MX$61.9
-36.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.47€23.68
$5.78MX$98.1
375.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53€1.32
$1.54MX$26.09
-0.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K€24.0K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
22.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K€22.4K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
0.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105€90.5
$90.7MX$1,538
15.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.23
$25.19MX$427
-29.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.10€25.08
$31.75MX$539
-8.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$140€120
$68.8MX$1,167
103.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.39€20.16
$29.37MX$498
-20.36%
Cinema Ticket
$10.48€9.04
$4.86MX$82.5
115.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$384€331
$226MX$3,828
70.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,770
$4,194MX$71.1K
170.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7€71.3
$47.38MX$804
74.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.37€35.66
$43.45MX$737
-4.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4€65.9
$80.2MX$1,361
-4.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.7€71.3
$91.4MX$1,550
-9.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$933€804
$1,086MX$18.4K
-14.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$864€745
$409MX$6,933
111.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,464€1,262
$1,972MX$33.5K
-25.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,381€1,190
$1,281MX$21.7K
7.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,965€1,694
$4,046MX$68.6K
-51.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,784€1,538
$6,704MX$113.7K
-73.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gudja
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,388€1,196
$773MX$13.1K
79.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
11.45
-74.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gudja: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Gudja and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gudja pays 79% 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: $90.0 in Gudja vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Gudja vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Gudja?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gudja or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 79% higher in Gudja, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Gudja and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $933 in Gudja versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Gudja or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $90.0 in Gudja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Gudja and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,806 per month in Gudja versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gudja or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Gudja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gudja. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gudja or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gudja, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Gudja or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Gudja and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Gudja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.