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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,195 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,991 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,787 per month in Gyeongju vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gyeongju is about 6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gyeongju and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Gyeongju 13% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.64 ₩10.6K

$11.60 MX$200

-34.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.07 ₩68.0K

$47.11 MX$811

4.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 ₩9,422

$11.88 MX$205

-42.76%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ₩4,001

$3.98 MX$68.5

-27.39%

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

$1.14 ₩1,578

$1.43 MX$24.57

-20.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₩529

$0.82 MX$14.20

-53.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 ₩3,566

$3.19 MX$54.9

-19.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₩5,983

$6.79 MX$117

-36.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₩3,258

$1.68 MX$28.85

39.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 ₩3,369

$2.20 MX$37.83

10.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ₩4,189

$1.71 MX$29.41

76.61%

Eggs

$2.70 ₩3,748

$2.74 MX$47.20

-1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.84 ₩15.0K

$9.58 MX$165

13.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 ₩14.7K

$9.01 MX$155

17.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.45 ₩25.6K

$12.81 MX$221

44.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 ₩6,221

$2.89 MX$49.74

55.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 ₩3,644

$1.50 MX$25.78

75.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 ₩5,252

$2.15 MX$36.98

76.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.64 ₩5,039

$2.26 MX$38.91

61.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₩3,619

$1.98 MX$34.10

31.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₩3,146

$1.99 MX$34.26

14.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 ₩3,136

$1.23 MX$21.25

83.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₩1,785

$1.20 MX$20.60

7.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₩4,513

$4.55 MX$78.3

-28.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 ₩20.5K

$10.37 MX$179

42.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₩1,581

$1.62 MX$27.88

-29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₩3,128

$2.88 MX$49.60

-21.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,470

$0.60 MX$10.34

76.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₩4,148

$5.39 MX$92.8

-44.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ₩1,069

$3.73 MX$64.2

-79.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.70 ₩23.1K

$5.77 MX$99.3

189.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₩1,483

$1.54 MX$26.45

-30.52%

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

$28.8K ₩39.9M

$22.5K MX$388.3K

27.61%

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

$34.0K ₩47.1M

$26.1K MX$448.7K

30.31%

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

$78.9 ₩109.3K

$91.4 MX$1,573

-13.67%

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

$36.70 ₩50.9K

$25.20 MX$434

45.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.21 ₩37.7K

$31.24 MX$538

-12.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 ₩78.8K

$67.2 MX$1,157

-15.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₩16.3K

$29.11 MX$501

-59.50%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 ₩15.5K

$4.86 MX$83.7

130.66%

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

$622 ₩862.7K

$224 MX$3,851

178.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K ₩30.0M

$4,229 MX$72.8K

411.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.03 ₩61.0K

$47.10 MX$811

-6.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.74 ₩31.5K

$44.29 MX$763

-48.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 ₩129.0K

$80.1 MX$1,379

16.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₩171.7K

$92.7 MX$1,596

33.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₩630.3K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-57.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₩485.4K

$390 MX$6,719

-10.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 ₩1.6M

$2,149 MX$37.0K

-46.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 ₩998.6K

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-43.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,970 ₩9.7M

$4,001 MX$68.9K

74.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,512 ₩7.6M

$6,502 MX$112.0K

-15.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,837 ₩2.5M

$758 MX$13.1K

142.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

11.45

-63.14%

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

Last update for Gyeongju: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Gyeongju versus $1,063 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 142% higher in Gyeongju, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Gyeongju versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $276 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,793 per month in Gyeongju and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,195 in Gyeongju and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $622 per month in Gyeongju and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,195, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Gyeongju. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.