😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,238 in Gifu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,937 in Gifu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,636 in Gifu.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 5% more expensive than Gifu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Gifu8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$6.85¥1,095
71.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$35.05¥5,606
18.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$4.99¥798
113.23%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$3.21¥513
9.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$1.09¥174
38.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$0.77¥124
25.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.78¥445
6.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$4.43¥708
0.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$1.55¥247
-10.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$1.49¥238
26.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$4.84¥774
-66.12%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$2.43¥388
3.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$10.52¥1,683
-20.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$6.28¥1,004
32.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$18.97¥3,034
-43.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$3.49¥559
-25.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$2.16¥346
-32.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$2.61¥417
-27.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$4.32¥691
-51.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$1.65¥264
7.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$1.25¥199
75.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.32¥211
-21.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$0.85¥135
27.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$3.57¥570
14.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$9.28¥1,485
11.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$2.06¥330
-16.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$2.98¥476
-13.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
$1.59¥255
-67.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
$54.5¥8,723
-51.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
$4.56¥729
-28.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
$3.37¥539
-26.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$23.44¥3,749
-86.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$1.24¥199
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$23.2K¥3.7M
30.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$12.3K¥2.0M
89.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$130¥20.8K
-36.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$27.39¥4,381
-18.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$30.10¥4,814
-2.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$56.1¥8,980
-8.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$13.80¥2,207
32.75%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$12.35¥1,975
-58.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$69.7¥11.2K
188.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$10.2K¥1.6M
-49.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$43.46¥6,951
-15.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$29.50¥4,719
34.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$67.1¥10.7K
17.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$97.0¥15.5K
-10.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
$477¥76.3K
103.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
$325¥52.0K
43.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$875¥139.9K
87.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.2K
$655¥104.7K
86.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.4K
$4,846¥775.1K
-18.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.6K
$2,455¥392.7K
164.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
1.81
530.94%
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 Gifu: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $477 in Gifu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $35.00 in Gifu. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $299, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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 Gifu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gifu cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Gifu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,857 in Gifu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Gifu?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $477 in Gifu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Gifu runs roughly 106% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $69.7 in Gifu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Gifu?
At $1,238 in Gifu versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gifu but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gifu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gifu more family-friendly?
For families, Gifu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Gifu?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Gifu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gifu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared