Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gaithersburg, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gaithersburg, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,814 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,153 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,491 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Gaithersburg, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Gaithersburg, MD is 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$19.67 $19.67

-40.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$99.2 $99.2

-58.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$7.11 $7.11

49.65%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$4.11 $4.11

-14.36%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$2.36 $2.36

-36.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$6.61 $6.61

-55.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$7.86 $7.86

-43.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$0.93 $0.93

48.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$3.65 $3.65

-48.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$6.74 $6.74

-75.67%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$6.30 $6.30

-60.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$11.15 $11.15

-25.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$17.33 $17.33

-51.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$22.31 $22.31

-51.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$7.72 $7.72

-66.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.94 $2.94

-50.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$7.55 $7.55

-74.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$8.16 $8.16

-74.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$4.92 $4.92

-63.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$3.69 $3.69

-40.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$2.77 $2.77

-62.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.96 $1.96

-44.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$8.12 $8.12

-49.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$15.19 $15.19

-32.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$3.71 $3.71

-30.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$1.96 $1.96

-73.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$4.55 $4.55

-28.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$1.33 $1.33

87.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$28.78 $28.78

-88.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$0.86 $0.86

52.33%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

12.32%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$24.5K $24.5K

-4.37%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$125 $125

-33.83%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$53.3 $53.3

-58.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$53.8 $53.8

-45.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$30.41 $30.41

69.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$15.32 $15.32

-66.91%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$1,179 $1,179

-82.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$23.1K $23.1K

-77.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$48.40 $48.40

-23.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$19.71 $19.71

101.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$80.7 $80.7

-2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$118 $118

-26.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$1,766 $1,766

-44.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$1,602 $1,602

-70.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,197 $2,197

-25.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$2,426 $2,426

-49.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$2,481 $2,481

59.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$2,588 $2,588

151.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$5,231 $5,231

-87.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.57

73.82%

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 Gaithersburg, MD: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,766 in Gaithersburg, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gaithersburg, MD pays 688% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $99.0 in Gaithersburg, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $515 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Gaithersburg, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Gaithersburg, MD differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $2,814 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Gaithersburg, MD earns 688% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,766 in Gaithersburg, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,179 in Gaithersburg, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $99.0 in Gaithersburg, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,814 in Gaithersburg, MD, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gaithersburg, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Gaithersburg, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.