😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $398 in Gaighat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $650 in Gaighat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $902 in Gaighat.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 216% more expensive than in Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Gaighat70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$1.84NPR 284
551.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$19.05NPR 2,938
119.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.56NPR 1,012
63.87%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.84NPR 285
90.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.50NPR 76.7
190.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.19NPR 29.38
363.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.53NPR 390
16.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.60NPR 554
25.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.60NPR 92.0
138.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.21NPR 32.23
776.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$0.37NPR 57.5
324.32%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.11NPR 172
126.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$8.73NPR 1,347
-5.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$2.14NPR 330
293.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$2.98NPR 459
258.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.80NPR 278
45.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.09NPR 167
32.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$0.70NPR 108
180.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$0.37NPR 57.8
464.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.34NPR 53.0
444.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.35NPR 53.4
520.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.52NPR 80.5
98.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.17NPR 25.76
529.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$2.22NPR 343
84.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$3.82NPR 589
166.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.49NPR 230
12.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$3.25NPR 501
-22.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.21NPR 31.73
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.20NPR 339
46.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.05NPR 162
129.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.73NPR 575
-13.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.27NPR 196
3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$32.5KNPR 5.0M
-8.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$40.7KNPR 6.3M
-41.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$32.60NPR 5,027
151.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$4.75NPR 733
383.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$9.76NPR 1,505
208.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$18.38NPR 2,835
182.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$3.20NPR 494
55.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$91.7NPR 14.1K
115.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$3,820NPR 589.1K
39.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$24.43NPR 3,767
45.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$28.49NPR 4,394
41.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$58.6NPR 9,040
34.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$40.33NPR 6,220
120.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$107NPR 16.5K
787.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$62.9NPR 9,697
653.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$204NPR 31.4K
706.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$145NPR 22.4K
733.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12.08
-5.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Gaighat: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $107 in Gaighat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $19.00 in Gaighat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $107 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 216% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $398 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 $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $596 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Gaighat?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $107 in Gaighat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 132% 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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $398 in Gaighat – a 216% 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 $398 in Gaighat versus $1,256 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 216% 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