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: $129 in Gulu versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $192 in Gulu versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $254 in Gulu versus $3,082 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 90% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.36 UGX 5,041

$11.94 MX$209

-88.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.60 UGX 46.7K

$10.59 MX$185

18.98%

Cappuccino

$2.85 UGX 10.6K

$3.62 MX$63.4

-21.27%

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

$0.29 UGX 1,076

$1.47 MX$25.69

-80.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 UGX 523

$0.94 MX$16.51

-85.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 UGX 2,962

$3.09 MX$54.1

-74.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 UGX 10.1K

$4.46 MX$78.0

-39.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 UGX 4,180

$0.52 MX$9.07

117.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.93 UGX 122.1K

$26.97 MX$472

22.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 UGX 5,056

$1.27 MX$22.28

7.09%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Gulu: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 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 896% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $194 in Gulu and $1,930 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 22% 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 $129 per month in Gulu versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 896% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $129 in Gulu versus $1,287 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 896% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.