Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gulfport, MS and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $2,038 in Gulfport, MS, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gulfport, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,038
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gulfport, MS and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gulfport, MS and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,038 per month in Gulfport, MS vs $1,210 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Gulfport, MS $2,038
  • Playa del Carmen $1,210

A couple spends around $3,052 per month in Gulfport, MS vs $2,113 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Gulfport, MS $3,052
  • Playa del Carmen $2,113

A family of three spends $4,066 per month in Gulfport, MS vs $3,016 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Gulfport, MS $4,066
  • Playa del Carmen $3,016

Gulfport, MS costs about 68% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Gulfport, MS sits 51% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.43 $18.43
$10.76 MX$199
71.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 $55.8
$43.03 MX$795
29.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$11.79 MX$218
2.37%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$3.87 MX$71.4
27.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.37 MX$25.29
63.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.84 MX$15.44
110.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.05 $4.05
$3.10 MX$57.3
30.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 $5.06
$5.07 MX$93.6
-0.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.44 MX$26.55
-37.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.23 MX$41.23
53.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.47 MX$27.17
80.27%
Eggs
$3.14 $3.14
$2.53 MX$46.71
24.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.77 $10.77
$7.30 MX$135
47.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.42 $11.42
$7.86 MX$145
45.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.79 MX$236
12.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$2.90 MX$53.6
42.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.44 MX$26.53
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.55 MX$47.07
5.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.06 MX$38.03
110.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.00 MX$36.97
12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.01 MX$37.07
-14.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.19 MX$22.02
77.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.26 MX$23.23
7.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.47 $8.47
$4.40 MX$81.4
92.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$9.59 MX$177
58.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.59 MX$29.41
27.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.81 MX$51.9
41.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.57 MX$10.47
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.82 MX$514
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$4.98 MX$92.1
-50.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$3.50 MX$64.6
-54.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.24 $26.24
$5.40 MX$99.8
385.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.47 MX$27.08
-44.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$21.0K MX$387.8K
75.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$23.9K MX$441.8K
9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$84.2 MX$1,556
163.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 $52.0
$23.99 MX$443
116.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$29.02 MX$536
141.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.90 $24.90
$63.0 MX$1,164
-60.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.14 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01 $9.01
$4.94 MX$91.3
82.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$627 $627
$204 MX$3,763
208.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K $13.8K
$3,941 MX$72.8K
248.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.57 $31.57
$43.60 MX$806
-27.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 $40.26
$43.12 MX$797
-6.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 $83.7
$75.8 MX$1,400
10.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.1 $76.1
$88.6 MX$1,637
-14.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,130 $1,130
$1,008 MX$18.6K
12.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 $903
$374 MX$6,911
141.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 $1,665
$1,708 MX$31.6K
-2.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 $1,681
$1,106 MX$20.4K
52.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,727 $1,727
$3,944 MX$72.9K
-56.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,714 $1,714
$6,169 MX$114.0K
-72.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gulfport, MS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,099 $3,099
$754 MX$13.9K
310.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
11.45
-42.88%

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

Last update for Gulfport, MS: October 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gulfport, MS
$903
Playa del Carmen
$374 58.6% $529
Groceries & Markets
Gulfport, MS
$344
Playa del Carmen
$258 25% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gulfport, MS
$344
Playa del Carmen
$137 60.1% $207
Eating Out
Gulfport, MS
$289
Playa del Carmen
$202 30.1% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Gulfport, MS
$104
Playa del Carmen
$113 8.4% $8.7
Sport & Entertainment
Gulfport, MS
$43
Playa del Carmen
$73 69.7% $30
Getting Around
Gulfport, MS
$10 *
Playa del Carmen
$53 406% $42

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,130 in Gulfport, MS versus $1,008 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 311% higher in Gulfport, MS, 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 $56.0 in Gulfport, MS versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Gulfport, MS
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
17:40 5:40 PM
17:40 5:40 PM
Same time as Gulfport, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
64,316
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gulfport, MS Playa del Carmen 1,100 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gulfport, MS
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gulfport, MS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gulfport, MS or Playa del Carmen?
Gulfport, MS costs about 68% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gulfport, MS and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,057 per month in Gulfport, MS and $1,816 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gulfport, MS or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Gulfport, MS and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Gulfport, MS and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gulfport, MS or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Gulfport, MS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gulfport, MS or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Gulfport, MS at $2,038. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gulfport, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gulfport, MS or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,210 versus $2,038 in Gulfport, MS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Gulfport, MS or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gulfport, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Gulfport, MS vs other spots: cost of living compared

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