Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Georgetown

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $1,643 in Georgetown, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Georgetown
🇬🇾 Guyana
$1,643
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,210 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,643 in Georgetown, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,210
  • Georgetown $1,643

A couple spends around $2,113 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,771 in Georgetown, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,113
  • Georgetown $2,771

A family of three spends $3,016 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,899 in Georgetown, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,016
  • Georgetown $3,899

Playa del Carmen is about 26% cheaper than Georgetown, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 10% below the global median, while Georgetown is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 MX$199
$18.26 GYD 3,797
-41.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.03 MX$795
$71.3 GYD 14.8K
-39.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$218
$9.19 GYD 1,911
28.29%
Cappuccino
$3.87 MX$71.4
$5.71 GYD 1,188
-32.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$25.29
$1.21 GYD 252
13.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MX$15.44
$0.61 GYD 126
37.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 MX$57.3
$1.95 GYD 406
58.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 MX$93.6
$3.27 GYD 680
55.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.55
$3.56 GYD 741
-59.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 MX$41.23
$2.08 GYD 432
7.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$2.07 GYD 430
-28.99%
Eggs
$2.53 MX$46.71
$3.94 GYD 819
-35.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.30 MX$135
$15.16 GYD 3,152
-51.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.86 MX$145
$7.01 GYD 1,458
12.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 MX$236
$8.91 GYD 1,853
43.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.6
$8.17 GYD 1,699
-64.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.53
$4.04 GYD 840
-64.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.07
$4.06 GYD 844
-37.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$38.03
$7.15 GYD 1,487
-71.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$36.97
$2.45 GYD 508
-18.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.07
$3.08 GYD 639
-34.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 MX$22.02
$3.14 GYD 653
-62.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MX$23.23
$1.60 GYD 332
-21.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MX$81.4
$3.43 GYD 713
28.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.59 MX$177
$16.72 GYD 3,476
-42.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.41
$1.83 GYD 380
-13.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 MX$51.9
$2.54 GYD 529
10.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.47
$0.58 GYD 121
-1.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.82 MX$514
$61.5 GYD 12.8K
-54.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 MX$92.1
$4.27 GYD 888
16.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.50 MX$64.6
$2.33 GYD 485
50.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 MX$99.8
$11.90 GYD 2,473
-54.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.08
$1.07 GYD 223
37.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$387.8K
$27.1K GYD 5.6M
-22.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$441.8K
$22.5K GYD 4.7M
6.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,556
$120 GYD 24.9K
-29.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.99 MX$443
$21.78 GYD 4,527
10.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.02 MX$536
$44.50 GYD 9,251
-34.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.0 MX$1,164
$37.71 GYD 7,840
67.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.14 MX$539
$15.08 GYD 3,135
93.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 MX$91.3
$6.04 GYD 1,256
-18.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$204 MX$3,763
$1,009 GYD 209.9K
-79.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,941 MX$72.8K
$18.8K GYD 3.9M
-79.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.60 MX$806
$37.95 GYD 7,889
14.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 MX$797
$41.02 GYD 8,528
5.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 MX$1,400
$133 GYD 27.7K
-43.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 MX$1,637
$85.8 GYD 17.8K
3.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 MX$18.6K
$958 GYD 199.1K
5.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 MX$6,911
$530 GYD 110.1K
-29.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.6K
$3,344 GYD 695.3K
-48.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 MX$20.4K
$1,288 GYD 267.7K
-14.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,944 MX$72.9K
$3,596 GYD 747.6K
9.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,169 MX$114.0K
$1,560 GYD 324.2K
295.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 MX$13.9K
$520 GYD 108.2K
44.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.94
64.99%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Last update for Georgetown: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$374
Georgetown
$530 41.6% $156
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Georgetown
$398 53.9% $139
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Georgetown
$266 31.4% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Georgetown
$186 35.6% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$113
Georgetown
$134 18.6% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$73
Georgetown
$50 31.7% $23
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$53
Georgetown
$80 51.7% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,008 in Playa del Carmen versus $958 in Georgetown. 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 45% higher in Playa del Carmen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $71.0 in Georgetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $398 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇬🇾 Georgetown
🕒 Local time
20:03 8:03 PM
21:03 9:03 PM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
310,320 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GYD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Guyanese Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 208 GYD (1,000 GYD = 4.81 USD). 1 EUR = 234 GYD (1,000 GYD = 4.28 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Georgetown 3,470 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Georgetown

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Georgetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Georgetown?
Georgetown costs about 36% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Georgetown?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,816 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,464 in Georgetown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Georgetown?
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 expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Georgetown?
Public transport costs about 121% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown?
Kindergarten costs $204 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,009 in Georgetown. 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 in Georgetown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Georgetown at $1,643. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Georgetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Georgetown?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,210 versus $1,643 in Georgetown. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Georgetown?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Georgetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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