Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Givat Shmuel

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,899 in Givat Shmuel, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Givat Shmuel, Israel
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Givat Shmuel
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,899
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Givat Shmuel

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 Givat Shmuel actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,899 in Givat Shmuel, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Givat Shmuel $2,899

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,342 in Givat Shmuel, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Givat Shmuel $4,342

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,785 in Givat Shmuel, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Givat Shmuel $5,785

Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper than Givat Shmuel, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Givat Shmuel is 113% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$23.06 ₪71.8
-52.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$97.0 ₪302
-55.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$20.39 ₪63.5
-42.23%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$4.89 ₪15.23
-22.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$2.77 ₪8.64
-53.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$2.21 ₪6.88
-64.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$11.16 ₪34.75
-71.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$9.50 ₪29.60
-48.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$2.46 ₪7.66
-42.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$2.64 ₪8.23
-15.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$2.62 ₪8.17
-45.80%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$5.31 ₪16.54
-52.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$21.61 ₪67.3
-66.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$14.25 ₪44.40
-45.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$25.33 ₪78.9
-49.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$4.53 ₪14.11
-38.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$3.92 ₪12.21
-65.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$2.50 ₪7.78
2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$3.24 ₪10.11
-34.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$1.74 ₪5.42
11.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$1.83 ₪5.70
3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$2.62 ₪8.16
-56.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$1.50 ₪4.66
-21.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$14.38 ₪44.80
-70.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$12.86 ₪40.06
-22.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$2.75 ₪8.55
-42.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$2.49 ₪7.76
7.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$2.74 ₪8.54
-79.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$109 ₪340
-75.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$4.21 ₪13.10
18.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$1.09 ₪3.39
205.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$19.70 ₪61.4
-72.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$2.62 ₪8.16
-45.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$54.5K ₪169.8K
-62.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$54.2K ₪168.9K
-56.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$444 ₪1,384
-80.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$11.18 ₪34.82
109.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$35.09 ₪109
-18.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$67.9 ₪211
-15.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$14.64 ₪45.60
-64.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$1,136 ₪3,539
-81.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$24.7K ₪76.9K
-84.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$73.1 ₪228
-40.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$40.04 ₪125
3.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$137 ₪427
-45.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$149 ₪464
-40.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$1,452 ₪4,523
-32.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$1,154 ₪3,595
-67.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$2,170 ₪6,757
-21.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,095 ₪6,526
-48.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$9,055 ₪28.2K
-56.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
$7,501 ₪23.4K
-17.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Givat Shmuel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.03
127.63%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Givat Shmuel: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Givat Shmuel
$1.2K 203% $773
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Givat Shmuel
$449 76.2% $194
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Givat Shmuel
$399 97.2% $197
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Givat Shmuel
$490 258% $354
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Givat Shmuel
$180 60.7% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Givat Shmuel
$97 44.3% $30
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Givat Shmuel
$130 157% $79

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,452 in Givat Shmuel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $97 in Givat Shmuel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $449 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇱 Givat Shmuel
🕒 Local time
08:06 8:06 AM
15:06 3:06 PM
7 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
24,659
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.47 ILS (1 ILS = 0.288 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Givat Shmuel 11,500 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Givat Shmuel

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 Givat Shmuel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Givat Shmuel?
Givat Shmuel costs about 141% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Givat Shmuel?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,349 in Givat Shmuel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Givat Shmuel?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,452 in Givat Shmuel.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Givat Shmuel?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,899 in Givat Shmuel. That’s a gap of about 141%.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Givat Shmuel?
Public transport costs about 76% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Givat Shmuel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Givat Shmuel at $2,899. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Givat Shmuel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 141% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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