🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,601 in Gozo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,501 in Gozo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,400 in Gozo.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 21% less than in Gozo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Gozo is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$20.10€17.10
-42.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$69.7€59.3
-38.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$11.47€9.76
-7.59%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.77€2.36
29.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.69€2.29
-46.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.33€1.13
-32.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$3.57€3.04
-15.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$4.56€3.88
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.27€1.08
14.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$1.15€0.98
59.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.36€2.86
-52.08%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$2.78€2.36
-8.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$9.89€8.42
-13.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$8.91€7.58
-4.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$13.97€11.89
-22.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.78€2.37
-1.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$1.96€1.67
-23.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$2.68€2.28
-27.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$1.54€1.31
40.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.79€1.52
3.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.41€1.20
55.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.48€1.26
-27.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.00€0.85
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$6.29€5.36
-35.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$4.76€4.05
119.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.52€1.29
8.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$1.24€1.06
105.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$2.92€2.48
-80.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$8.19€6.97
-61.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.98€1.68
19.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$35.40€30.13
-90.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.57€1.34
-16.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$25.8K€22.0K
18.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$41.0K€34.9K
-41.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$113€95.9
-26.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$29.59€25.18
-25.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$33.32€28.35
-11.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$52.4€44.60
-2.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$22.71€19.33
-17.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$6.97€5.93
-29.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$262€223
-24.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$12.9K€11.0K
-59.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$103€87.8
-65.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$34.50€29.36
14.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$66.4€56.5
20.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$58.0€49.34
51.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$728€620
32.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$661€563
-27.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,246€1,060
32.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,187€1,010
0.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gozo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$1,377€1,172
-47.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.48
154.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Gozo: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $728 in Gozo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gozo pays 90% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $70 in Gozo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $255 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Gozo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Gozo?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Gozo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Gozo?
On paper, Gozo earns 90% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Gozo?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $728 in Gozo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Gozo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Gozo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Gozo?
All in, you'll spend $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,601 in Gozo – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Gozo?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,601 in Gozo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gozo. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Gozo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,262 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Gozo?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Gozo 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Gozo. 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