😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $301 in Gaighat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $498 in Gaighat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $694 in Gaighat.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 329% more expensive than in Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Gaighat78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$1.99NPR 301
488.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$20.08NPR 3,037
132.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$6.43NPR 973
81.18%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$1.54NPR 233
165.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$0.56NPR 84.5
144.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$0.16NPR 24.54
418.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$3.36NPR 509
-0.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$3.60NPR 545
91.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.19
$0.52NPR 78.2
232.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.20
$0.22NPR 33.12
927.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.90
$0.32NPR 48.41
453.13%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.18
$1.01NPR 152
170.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$7.55NPR 1,142
21.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$2.00NPR 303
346.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$2.69NPR 406
368.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$1.68NPR 255
79.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.54
$1.13NPR 171
38.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.92
$0.69NPR 104
208.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.27
$0.34NPR 52.1
564.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.87
$0.32NPR 47.86
525.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.89
$0.31NPR 47.65
564.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$0.49NPR 74.4
140.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.14NPR 21.01
757.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$2.01NPR 305
130.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$3.95NPR 598
170.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.37
$1.35NPR 204
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.69
$2.88NPR 436
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$2.03NPR 307
168.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$1.34NPR 203
176.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$3.32NPR 502
80.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
$1.36NPR 206
13.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.3K
$29.9KNPR 4.5M
-25.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
$36.6KNPR 5.5M
-29.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,506
$31.24NPR 4,726
185.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$3.32NPR 502
654.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$7.81NPR 1,182
303.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$2.90NPR 439
74.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,802
$66.2NPR 10.0K
240.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$4,774NPR 722.3K
-11.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$26.66NPR 4,033
77.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$28.86NPR 4,366
55.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$67.2NPR 10.2K
22.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,556
$29.40NPR 4,448
213.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,850
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
9.72
17.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Gaighat: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $20.00 in Gaighat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $99.0 per month, with Gaighat 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
Playa del Carmen vs Gaighat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Gaighat?
Playa del Carmen and Gaighat differ by about 329% in total monthly costs ($1,293 vs $301 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Gaighat?
You'd need roughly $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $452 in Gaighat 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 180% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Gaighat?
All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $301 in Gaighat – a 329% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $301 in Gaighat versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gaighat but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gaighat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Gaighat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gaighat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Gaighat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Gaighat?
Expats usually find Gaighat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 329% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared