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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,062 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,573 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,083 in Goma, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 18% more than Goma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Goma 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

-5.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

-8.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

8.81%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$3.41 CDF 7,667

2.64%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.99 CDF 2,215

46.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$1.02 CDF 2,294

-13.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.64 CDF 3,680

79.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

-11.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.46 CDF 3,279

-2.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$2.03 CDF 4,561

-9.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.56 CDF 3,498

0.64%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.69 CDF 3,806

48.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

37.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

33.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

107.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$1.97 CDF 4,434

32.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$2.03 CDF 4,570

-29.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.70 CDF 3,815

15.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$3.06 CDF 6,874

-31.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.48 CDF 1,080

285.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$1.98 CDF 4,450

9.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.72 CDF 1,615

48.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$1.97 CDF 4,436

-14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$2.22 CDF 4,978

13.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$2.02 CDF 4,532

19.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.02 CDF 2,284

29.41%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$200 CDF 448.9K

-58.96%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

54.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

-46.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

74.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

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

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

80.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$100 CDF 225.8K

-11.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$501 CDF 1.1M

89.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$299 CDF 671.6K

58.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$795 CDF 1.8M

106.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$507 CDF 1.1M

138.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $501 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 18% 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,594 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,062 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $1,062, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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 $1,062 versus $1,256 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.