😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,323 in Gush Etzion versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,420 in Gush Etzion versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,517 in Gush Etzion versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Gush Etzion is roughly 83% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gush Etzion is 73% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.08₪64.4
$11.87MX$204
86.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.7₪244
$42.90MX$736
94.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.90₪46.36
$10.65MX$183
49.30%
Cappuccino
$4.02₪11.72
$3.45MX$59.2
16.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₪8.51
$1.50MX$25.81
94.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₪6.83
$0.95MX$16.28
146.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.82₪25.71
$3.03MX$51.9
191.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.38₪24.43
$4.61MX$79.1
81.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₪5.60
$1.38MX$23.61
39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52₪7.35
$1.85MX$31.70
36.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80₪8.18
$1.61MX$27.65
73.91%
Eggs
$4.09₪11.93
$2.59MX$44.51
57.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91₪46.38
$8.26MX$142
92.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.96₪31.96
$8.37MX$144
30.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.24₪59.0
$10.66MX$183
89.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26₪9.51
$2.63MX$45.12
23.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26₪6.58
$1.49MX$25.53
51.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₪5.54
$1.92MX$32.94
-1.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35₪6.85
$2.09MX$35.81
12.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56₪4.56
$1.86MX$31.88
-16.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58₪4.60
$2.26MX$38.81
-30.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92₪5.59
$1.06MX$18.23
81.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44₪4.21
$1.09MX$18.67
32.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.88₪31.72
$4.15MX$71.2
162.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.92₪43.51
$10.39MX$178
43.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92₪8.52
$1.72MX$29.59
69.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17₪9.24
$2.61MX$44.85
21.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67₪4.87
$0.54MX$9.30
209.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.7₪189
$26.94MX$462
140.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20₪12.24
$3.13MX$53.7
34.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81₪2.36
$2.51MX$43.09
-67.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.74₪95.5
$3.15MX$54.1
939.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99₪5.81
$1.27MX$21.88
56.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K₪115.7K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
30.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.8K₪133.6K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
94.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249₪725
$83.0MX$1,425
199.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.09₪32.35
$22.71MX$390
-51.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.43₪85.8
$29.46MX$506
-0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.0₪192
$51.0MX$875
29.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.15₪52.9
$18.33MX$315
-0.98%
Cinema Ticket
$12.92₪37.67
$4.93MX$84.5
162.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,019₪2,971
$197MX$3,386
416.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K₪33.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
120.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9₪268
$36.90MX$633
148.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3₪170
$39.89MX$685
46.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121₪353
$80.0MX$1,373
51.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133₪388
$89.5MX$1,536
48.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,002₪2,921
$956MX$16.4K
4.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$947₪2,763
$477MX$8,189
98.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,514₪4,415
$1,646MX$28.3K
-8.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,411₪4,115
$1,225MX$21.0K
15.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.9K₪31.9K
$3,918MX$67.2K
178.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,744₪19.7K
$6,459MX$110.9K
4.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gush Etzion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.4
11.42
-61.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gush Etzion: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,002 in Gush Etzion and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $84.0 in Gush Etzion vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $250 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
Gush Etzion vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gush Etzion or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Gush Etzion. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gush Etzion vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,484 in Gush Etzion and $1,906 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gush Etzion vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,002 in Gush Etzion versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Gush Etzion vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $84.0 in Gush Etzion. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Gush Etzion compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,323 per month in Gush Etzion versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gush Etzion or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,323 in Gush Etzion, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gush Etzion. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gush Etzion or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Gush Etzion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gush Etzion vs other spots: cost of living compared