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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Gwangju is 11.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Gwangju is 37.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 3.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.4 โ‚ฉ10K
$11.99 MX$227
-38.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5 โ‚ฉ69.9K
$42.47 MX$803
21.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.82 โ‚ฉ7,898
$10.47 MX$198
-44.41%
Cappuccino
$3.9 โ‚ฉ5,286
$3.6 MX$68.2
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 โ‚ฉ2,258
$1.44 MX$27.16
15.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 โ‚ฉ991
$0.89 MX$16.79
-17.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.9 โ‚ฉ3,934
$3.09 MX$58.5
-6.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 โ‚ฉ4,850
$4.58 MX$86.6
-22.05%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 โ‚ฉ2,534
$1.38 MX$26.04
35.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 โ‚ฉ3,161
$1.85 MX$34.9
25.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.09 โ‚ฉ4,192
$1.57 MX$29.68
96.82%
Eggs
$2.61 โ‚ฉ3,544
$2.55 MX$48.3
2.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.37 โ‚ฉ10K
$8.61 MX$163
-14.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.43 โ‚ฉ10.1K
$8.54 MX$161
-13.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$34.14 โ‚ฉ46.3K
$10.98 MX$208
210.93%
Apples (1kg)
$7.63 โ‚ฉ10.4K
$2.72 MX$51.4
180.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.63 โ‚ฉ4,919
$1.51 MX$28.57
140.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.46 โ‚ฉ7,407
$1.88 MX$35.63
190.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 โ‚ฉ7,775
$2.19 MX$41.42
161.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 โ‚ฉ5,265
$1.87 MX$35.3
107.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 โ‚ฉ3,231
$2.19 MX$41.37
8.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 โ‚ฉ3,419
$1.07 MX$20.23
135.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 โ‚ฉ1,719
$1.09 MX$20.64
16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37 โ‚ฉ4,569
$3.96 MX$74.9
-14.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.48 โ‚ฉ21K
$8.86 MX$167
74.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 โ‚ฉ2,208
$1.72 MX$32.53
-5.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 โ‚ฉ3,088
$2.61 MX$49.37
-12.64%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 โ‚ฉ1,293
$0.52 MX$9.74
82.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65 โ‚ฉ88.2K
$26.59 MX$503
144.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 โ‚ฉ3,951
$3.24 MX$61.2
-10.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 โ‚ฉ771
$2.38 MX$44.94
-76.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 โ‚ฉ11.3K
$3.11 MX$58.7
167.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 โ‚ฉ1,700
$1.31 MX$24.85
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28K โ‚ฉ37.9M
$30.3K MX$573K
-7.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K โ‚ฉ29.4M
$24K MX$453.6K
-9.61%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 โ‚ฉ220.3K
$84.2 MX$1,592
92.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.31 โ‚ฉ47.9K
$22.14 MX$419
59.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.42 โ‚ฉ30.4K
$30.14 MX$570
-25.61%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.2 โ‚ฉ65.4K
$52 MX$983
-7.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.96 โ‚ฉ20.3K
$18.72 MX$354
-20.09%
Cinema Ticket
$8.95 โ‚ฉ12.1K
$5.07 MX$95.9
76.53%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 โ‚ฉ558.1K
$200 MX$3,787
105.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K โ‚ฉ32.2M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
345.57%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.41 โ‚ฉ67K
$35.74 MX$676
38.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.06 โ‚ฉ48.9K
$39.8 MX$753
-9.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.5 โ‚ฉ84.8K
$79 MX$1,493
-20.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 โ‚ฉ135.9K
$88.4 MX$1,671
13.36%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 โ‚ฉ620.4K
$965 MX$18.3K
-52.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 โ‚ฉ487.6K
$474 MX$8,968
-24.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$850 โ‚ฉ1.2M
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-48.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 โ‚ฉ797.3K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-51.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,532 โ‚ฉ10.2M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
144.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,842 โ‚ฉ6.6M
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-35.69%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Gwangju
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,451 โ‚ฉ3.3M
$792 MX$15K
209.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
11.42
-65.85%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gwangju: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.