Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gallup, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gallup, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,698 in Gallup, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,862 in Gallup, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,026 in Gallup, NM.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 53% less than in Gallup, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Gallup, NM is 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 MX$208

$19.69 $19.69

-39.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 MX$730

$60.2 $60.2

-30.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 MX$181

$12.21 $12.21

-14.66%

Cappuccino

$3.51 MX$61.2

$6.17 $6.17

-43.11%

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

$1.52 MX$26.39

$2.85 $2.85

-46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.84

$2.24 $2.24

-59.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$52.9

$6.32 $6.32

-51.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$76.1

$6.95 $6.95

-37.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MX$24.73

$1.14 $1.14

24.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.87

$4.10 $4.10

-55.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.45

$3.22 $3.22

-49.38%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.20

$5.15 $5.15

-50.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 MX$149

$16.47 $16.47

-47.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$148

$15.72 $15.72

-45.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 MX$188

$20.19 $20.19

-46.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MX$47.94

$5.64 $5.64

-51.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.00

$1.36 $1.36

5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.83

$6.62 $6.62

-71.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.77

$6.24 $6.24

-65.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.97

$5.67 $5.67

-68.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 MX$38.71

$2.56 $2.56

-13.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.60

$1.52 $1.52

-29.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.79

$2.30 $2.30

-53.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$72.2

$9.63 $9.63

-56.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MX$182

$12.93 $12.93

-19.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 MX$30.34

$2.11 $2.11

-17.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.92

$4.08 $4.08

-36.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.94

$1.95 $1.95

-73.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 MX$55.9

$3.57 $3.57

-10.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MX$43.55

$1.80 $1.80

38.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 MX$55.4

$29.43 $29.43

-89.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.87

$0.77 $0.77

63.64%

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

$29.7K MX$516.6K

$28.7K $28.7K

3.29%

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

$23.7K MX$412.1K

$29.3K $29.3K

-19.10%

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

$196 $196

-58.19%

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

$22.73 MX$395

$44.36 $44.36

-48.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 MX$512

$50.1 $50.1

-41.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$908

$42.70 $42.70

22.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$85.9

$14.92 $14.92

-66.96%

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

$202 MX$3,511

$1,019 $1,019

-80.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,217 MX$90.8K

$15.6K $15.6K

-66.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$625

$48.20 $48.20

-25.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$56.4 $56.4

-28.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

$86.7 $86.7

-7.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,554

$110 $110

-18.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 MX$16.5K

$1,013 $1,013

-6.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,097

$1,374 $1,374

-66.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 MX$28.4K

$1,767 $1,767

-7.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 MX$20.8K

$2,260 $2,260

-47.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 MX$68.4K

$3,106 $3,106

26.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$111.9K

$2,478 $2,478

159.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

$2,357 $2,357

-72.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

128.40%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Last update for Gallup, NM: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Playa del Carmen and $1,013 in Gallup, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gallup, NM pays 258% 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 $60.0 in Gallup, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $469 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 Gallup, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 258% lower in Gallup, NM. 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: $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,013 in Gallup, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,019 in Gallup, NM. 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 $60.0 in Gallup, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,698 in Gallup, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gallup, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gallup, NM, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Gallup, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.