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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $123 in Gulu versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $182 in Gulu versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $242 in Gulu versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Gulu costs roughly 90% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gulu 91% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.36 UGX 5,310

$11.60 MX$200

-88.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 UGX 47.1K

$11.88 MX$205

1.52%

Cappuccino

$2.60 UGX 10.2K

$3.98 MX$68.6

-34.67%

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

$0.25 UGX 967

$1.43 MX$24.60

-82.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 UGX 527

$0.82 MX$14.22

-84.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.77 UGX 3,029

$3.19 MX$55.0

-75.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 UGX 10.3K

$6.79 MX$117

-61.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 UGX 4,200

$0.60 MX$10.35

78.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 UGX 126.2K

$28.80 MX$497

12.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 UGX 5,369

$1.54 MX$26.48

-11.04%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

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

$25.20 MX$435

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

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

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Gulu: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

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

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

Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 928% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $185 in Gulu and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 12% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $123 per month in Gulu versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 928% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $123 in Gulu versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Gulu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 928% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.