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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $709 per month in Guiyang vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,116 per month in Guiyang vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,523 per month in Guiyang vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Guiyang is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Guiyang and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Guiyang 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.72 ¥18.41
$11.99 MX$209
-77.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.69 ¥147
$41.78 MX$728
-48.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 ¥32.05
$10.75 MX$187
-55.91%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ¥20.04
$3.50 MX$60.9
-15.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.15
$1.45 MX$25.22
-67.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.99
$0.88 MX$15.41
-67.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥5.87
$2.95 MX$51.3
-70.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ¥13.93
$4.51 MX$78.6
-54.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.07
$1.43 MX$24.94
25.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ¥10.51
$1.84 MX$31.99
-15.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.51
$1.57 MX$27.31
-38.85%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥10.87
$2.51 MX$43.74
-35.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.80 ¥86.5
$8.28 MX$144
54.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥20.93
$8.43 MX$147
-63.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.34 ¥69.9
$10.68 MX$186
-3.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 ¥12.50
$2.61 MX$45.43
-29.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ¥8.18
$1.44 MX$25.04
-15.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 ¥10.49
$1.96 MX$34.16
-20.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.76
$2.09 MX$36.47
-44.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.77
$1.85 MX$32.24
-61.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.50
$2.17 MX$37.74
-55.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ¥4.03
$1.03 MX$17.96
-41.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.48
$1.07 MX$18.70
-52.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 ¥21.49
$4.10 MX$71.4
-22.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 ¥70.2
$10.17 MX$177
2.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥5.34
$1.68 MX$29.17
-52.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ¥10.67
$2.53 MX$43.98
-37.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.98
$0.51 MX$8.87
-43.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.69 ¥113
$26.04 MX$453
-35.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ¥9.55
$3.23 MX$56.3
-56.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.20
$2.41 MX$41.88
-86.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.72 ¥45.43
$3.23 MX$56.2
108.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥7.96
$1.32 MX$23.00
-10.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥130.0K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
-35.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ¥116.3K
$23.7K MX$412.0K
-27.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.45 ¥307
$82.0 MX$1,428
-44.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 ¥67.2
$22.95 MX$400
-56.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.95 ¥80.8
$30.11 MX$524
-60.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.47 ¥287
$52.0 MX$905
-18.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.88 ¥93.8
$18.53 MX$323
-25.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 ¥39.57
$4.98 MX$86.6
17.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$330 ¥2,232
$197 MX$3,438
67.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K ¥115.7K
$5,336 MX$92.9K
220.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.21 ¥292
$35.60 MX$620
21.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.21 ¥204
$40.33 MX$702
-25.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.0 ¥480
$78.8 MX$1,371
-9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7 ¥485
$88.9 MX$1,549
-19.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 ¥1,872
$947 MX$16.5K
-70.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 ¥1,314
$474 MX$8,254
-58.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 ¥3,990
$1,644 MX$28.6K
-64.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 ¥2,474
$1,211 MX$21.1K
-69.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,025 ¥20.4K
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-25.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,047 ¥13.8K
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-68.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guiyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
11.42
-65.94%

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

Last update for Guiyang: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Guiyang versus $947 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Guiyang versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $249 – making Guiyang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Guiyang vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Guiyang and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $709 in Guiyang, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 77% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Guiyang compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,063 per month in Guiyang and $1,884 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 Guiyang and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guiyang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Guiyang and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Guiyang and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Guiyang, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Guiyang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Guiyang and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $709 in Guiyang to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Guiyang and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Guiyang. 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.

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