😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,212 in Gifu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,904 in Gifu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,596 in Gifu.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 7% more expensive than in Gifu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Gifu12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$6.42¥1,002
82.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$30.92¥4,830
50.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$4.87¥761
139.22%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$2.84¥444
44.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.42¥222
-3.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$0.72¥113
15.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$2.70¥422
24.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$3.64¥569
89.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.19
$1.42¥221
21.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.20
$1.35¥210
67.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.90
$5.38¥840
-67.10%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.18
$2.04¥318
33.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$9.46¥1,478
-2.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$9.41¥1,470
-5.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$17.67¥2,760
-28.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$3.37¥527
-10.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.54
$1.92¥300
-18.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.92
$1.98¥309
7.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.27
$3.93¥614
-42.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.87
$1.50¥235
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.89
$1.13¥176
82.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$1.35¥210
-12.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.82¥128
46.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$3.95¥616
17.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$9.67¥1,510
10.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.37
$1.93¥302
-16.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.69
$3.05¥476
-5.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$1.52¥237
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$57.7¥9,013
-48.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$3.86¥603
41.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$3.11¥486
18.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$21.05¥3,288
-71.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
$1.05¥164
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.3K
$21.5K¥3.4M
4.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
$14.6K¥2.3M
77.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,506
$140¥21.9K
-36.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$24.01¥3,751
4.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$30.70¥4,797
2.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
$43.53¥6,800
55.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$11.83¥1,847
-57.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,802
$509¥79.5K
-55.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$12.8K¥2.0M
-66.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$44.87¥7,009
5.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$30.81¥4,814
45.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$72.3¥11.3K
13.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,556
$90.2¥14.1K
2.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$512¥80.0K
108.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,850
$305¥47.6K
33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$1,072¥167.4K
80.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$693¥108.3K
87.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$4,619¥721.6K
-13.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$2,015¥314.8K
228.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gifu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
2.21
418.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Gifu: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $512 in Gifu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $31.00 in Gifu. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $1,818 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: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $512 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 93% 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 $225 in Playa del Carmen versus $509 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Gifu?
At $1,212 in Gifu versus $1,293 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 7% 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