🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,753 in Gdansk, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,438 in Gdansk, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,124 in Gdansk, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 28% cheaper than Gdansk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Gdansk is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$10.72zł 40.67
11.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$53.5zł 203
-21.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.91zł 33.81
20.65%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$4.06zł 15.39
-13.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.08zł 7.88
-30.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.88zł 7.12
-53.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$4.18zł 15.85
-29.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.96zł 15.04
13.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.02zł 3.88
40.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.34zł 5.07
37.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.86zł 7.06
-15.59%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.32zł 12.58
-24.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$9.53zł 36.18
-13.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.67zł 25.32
26.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$12.91zł 48.99
-17.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.05zł 3.98
148.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.81zł 6.87
-20.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.98zł 7.53
-1.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.86zł 10.86
-26.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.92zł 3.48
101.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.10zł 4.16
97.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.40zł 5.31
-26.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.67zł 2.55
59.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$5.50zł 20.86
-25.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$7.75zł 29.41
31.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.16zł 4.40
44.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.77zł 6.71
42.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.28zł 4.84
-60.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$32.37zł 123
-19.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.15zł 8.14
50.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.83zł 3.15
190.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$13.40zł 50.9
-75.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.69zł 6.39
-21.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$32.9Kzł 125.0K
-9.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$31.6Kzł 120.1K
-25.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$311zł 1,181
-73.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$10.94zł 41.49
109.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$19.04zł 72.2
58.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$43.92zł 167
18.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$22.10zł 83.9
-16.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.89zł 26.14
-27.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$369zł 1,399
-46.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$7,731zł 29.3K
-30.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$85.0zł 322
-58.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$41.39zł 157
-2.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$84.3zł 320
-6.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$87.9zł 333
1.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$900zł 3,416
5.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$730zł 2,768
-35.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,454zł 5,516
13.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$1,058zł 4,015
14.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$5,515zł 20.9K
-26.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$3,312zł 12.6K
95.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gdansk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,905zł 7,229
-65.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.01
62.91%
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 Gdansk: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $900 in Gdansk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 191% higher in Gdansk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $53.0 in Gdansk. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $227 in Gdansk – so Gdansk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Gdansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Gdansk compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $1,753 in Gdansk – roughly 40% apart. Gdansk costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Gdansk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,629 in Gdansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Gdansk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Gdansk?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $369 in Gdansk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Gdansk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Gdansk at $1,753. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gdansk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Gdansk?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $1,753 in Gdansk. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gdansk safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Gdansk?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gdansk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared