🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,366 in Geoje, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,140 in Geoje, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,914 in Geoje, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 6% cheaper than Geoje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Geoje is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$7.07₩10.5K
68.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$34.16₩50.7K
25.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.14₩9,112
72.48%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.18₩6,207
-13.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.85₩2,751
-20.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.75₩1,109
25.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.45₩2,149
113.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.72₩5,515
19.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.74₩2,588
-17.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.04₩3,024
-7.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$3.13₩4,650
-47.92%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.17₩3,217
21.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$10.32₩15.3K
-20.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$8.21₩12.2K
0.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$27.03₩40.1K
-58.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$8.47₩12.6K
-68.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$3.10₩4,593
-51.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$7.28₩10.8K
-72.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$5.38₩7,977
-61.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$5.12₩7,594
-65.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.94₩4,364
-25.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.01₩2,987
-46.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.21₩1,802
-14.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.40₩5,037
16.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$11.89₩17.6K
-14.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.74₩2,576
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.36₩4,985
-25.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.17₩1,729
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.92₩4,325
7.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.80₩1,182
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$16.21₩24.0K
-80.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.21₩1,789
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$27.9K₩41.4M
10.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$25.1K₩37.3M
-7.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$131₩193.9K
-37.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$25.75₩38.2K
-12.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$28.08₩41.7K
5.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$48.68₩72.2K
6.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$11.59₩17.2K
-57.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$481₩714.0K
-58.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$14.3K₩21.3M
-63.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$102₩151.1K
-64.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$46.63₩69.2K
-14.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$87.4₩129.6K
-8.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$118₩174.8K
-24.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$454₩672.9K
112.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$377₩559.2K
23.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,079₩1.6M
47.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$780₩1.2M
54.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Geoje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,676₩2.5M
-57.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.22
170.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Geoje: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $454 in Geoje. 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 133% higher in Geoje, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Geoje. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $412 in Geoje – so Playa del Carmen 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 Geoje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Geoje?
Geoje costs about 6% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Geoje?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,049 in Geoje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Geoje?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Geoje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,366 in Geoje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Geoje?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $481 in Geoje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Geoje?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Geoje at $1,366. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Geoje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Geoje?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $1,366 in Geoje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Geoje?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Geoje?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geoje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared