Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Georgetown Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Georgetown

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,317 in Georgetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,426 in Georgetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,535 in Georgetown, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 2% cheaper than Georgetown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Georgetown are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Georgetown 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$11.78 GYD 2,449
-0.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$72.5 GYD 15.1K
-42.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$8.59 GYD 1,786
23.86%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$5.16 GYD 1,073
-31.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$1.19 GYD 247
26.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.65 GYD 135
49.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$2.06 GYD 428
43.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$2.35 GYD 488
89.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$3.36 GYD 699
-58.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$2.14 GYD 445
-11.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.89 GYD 393
-13.23%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$4.00 GYD 831
-37.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$13.94 GYD 2,898
-40.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$6.17 GYD 1,283
35.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$9.42 GYD 1,958
13.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$9.36 GYD 1,947
-72.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.60 GYD 541
-43.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$3.23 GYD 671
-41.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$6.26 GYD 1,301
-66.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$2.40 GYD 498
-25.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$3.01 GYD 627
-27.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$2.29 GYD 475
-54.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$1.44 GYD 300
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$2.57 GYD 535
58.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$17.05 GYD 3,544
-39.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.75 GYD 363
-2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.45 GYD 509
5.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$0.61 GYD 126
-16.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$29.07 GYD 6,043
-8.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$3.20 GYD 664
1.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$3.29 GYD 684
-24.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$12.07 GYD 2,509
-73.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.04 GYD 216
25.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$22.0K GYD 4.6M
37.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$17.3K GYD 3.6M
35.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$90.5 GYD 18.8K
-8.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$27.39 GYD 5,695
-18.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$51.1 GYD 10.6K
-42.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$39.07 GYD 8,122
32.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$6.55 GYD 1,362
-22.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$1,023 GYD 212.6K
-80.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$22.9K GYD 4.8M
-77.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$34.88 GYD 7,251
5.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$52.0 GYD 10.8K
-23.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$130 GYD 27.1K
-39.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$77.7 GYD 16.2K
12.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$793 GYD 164.8K
22.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$315 GYD 65.6K
48.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,481 GYD 515.8K
-33.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$1,191 GYD 247.6K
2.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$3,505 GYD 728.7K
12.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$1,573 GYD 327.0K
313.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$517 GYD 107.4K
28.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
7.5
52.27%

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 Georgetown: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $793 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 28% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $72.0 in Georgetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $373 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 2% 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 Georgetown?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,976 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 vs Georgetown?
Public transport costs about 10% 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 Georgetown?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,023 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 Georgetown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Georgetown at $1,317. 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 $1,297 versus $1,317 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 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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