😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $396 in Gaighat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $643 in Gaighat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $890 in Gaighat.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 227% more expensive than Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Gaighat70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$1.84NPR 280
537.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$19.17NPR 2,917
117.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$6.37NPR 970
67.03%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.83NPR 278
92.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.53NPR 81.0
184.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.18NPR 27.01
438.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.63NPR 400
12.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$3.58NPR 545
24.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$0.60NPR 90.7
130.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.23NPR 35.09
721.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$0.35NPR 52.9
368.57%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.13NPR 172
122.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$8.82NPR 1,343
-5.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$2.17NPR 330
284.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$2.88NPR 438
272.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.77NPR 270
46.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.08NPR 165
35.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$0.71NPR 108
167.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$0.38NPR 57.4
447.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.37NPR 56.4
381.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.35NPR 53.1
525.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$0.53NPR 80.4
96.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.15NPR 22.61
620.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.14NPR 325
90.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$3.85NPR 586
168.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.48NPR 226
15.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.20NPR 487
-19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.18NPR 28.13
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.16NPR 328
50.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.05NPR 160
137.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$3.68NPR 560
-11.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.28NPR 195
2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$32.2KNPR 4.9M
-5.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$41.0KNPR 6.2M
-42.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$32.56NPR 4,956
154.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$4.78NPR 727
364.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$9.52NPR 1,449
208.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$17.89NPR 2,724
188.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$3.25NPR 494
56.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$91.8NPR 14.0K
118.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$3,832NPR 583.2K
36.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$25.04NPR 3,811
47.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$28.41NPR 4,325
40.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$59.1NPR 8,994
32.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$40.22NPR 6,122
116.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$105NPR 16.0K
823.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$64.0NPR 9,744
630.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$208NPR 31.6K
690.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$146NPR 22.2K
737.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gaighat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Gaighat: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $105 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 Gaighat?
Playa del Carmen and Gaighat differ by about 227% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $396 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 $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $594 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 Gaighat?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $105 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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $396 in Gaighat – a 227% 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 $396 in Gaighat versus $1,297 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 227% 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