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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,026 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,541 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,055 in Goma, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 26% more than Goma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Goma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$12.30 CDF 28.1K

-4.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$45.25 CDF 103.4K

-8.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$10.14 CDF 23.2K

4.93%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$3.59 CDF 8,212

-1.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.02 CDF 2,340

48.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$1.03 CDF 2,347

-5.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$1.59 CDF 3,629

85.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$4.94 CDF 11.3K

-9.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.46 CDF 3,342

-5.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$2.04 CDF 4,658

-7.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.57 CDF 3,591

4.46%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$1.66 CDF 3,797

51.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$6.02 CDF 13.8K

38.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$6.30 CDF 14.4K

32.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

110.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$1.97 CDF 4,503

31.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$2.01 CDF 4,600

-27.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$1.71 CDF 3,910

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$2.95 CDF 6,735

-29.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$0.52 CDF 1,179

242.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$1.99 CDF 4,539

10.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.67 CDF 1,524

61.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$2.05 CDF 4,682

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$2.28 CDF 5,203

13.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$1.95 CDF 4,462

27.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$1.02 CDF 2,320

28.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$524.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,436

$200 CDF 456.7K

-58.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$385

$14.81 CDF 33.8K

50.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$54.7 CDF 125.0K

-46.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$30.38 CDF 69.4K

69.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,480

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$20.02 CDF 45.8K

84.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$101 CDF 229.8K

-13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$490 CDF 1.1M

98.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$305 CDF 697.0K

53.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$814 CDF 1.9M

101.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$501 CDF 1.1M

143.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Goma: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $490 in Goma. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Goma. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $185 in Goma – so Goma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 26% more than Goma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,540 in Goma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Goma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,026 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Goma, where all-in costs run around $1,026, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Goma costs $1,026 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Goma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.