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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $816 in Gradiska, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,323 in Gradiska, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,830 in Gradiska, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 54% more than Gradiska, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Gradiska are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Gradiska 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$5.78 BAM 9.90

107.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$35.14 BAM 60.2

18.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$5.59 BAM 9.57

92.31%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$1.04 BAM 1.79

236.54%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$1.73 BAM 2.97

-16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$1.20 BAM 2.05

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.79 BAM 3.07

64.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$2.10 BAM 3.60

114.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.36 BAM 2.33

5.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$1.15 BAM 1.97

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.70 BAM 2.91

-7.65%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$3.92 BAM 6.71

-35.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$7.54 BAM 12.92

9.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$7.22 BAM 12.37

16.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$15.97 BAM 27.35

-33.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$1.16 BAM 1.99

125.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$1.56 BAM 2.68

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.15 BAM 1.97

70.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.58 BAM 2.70

32.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$1.39 BAM 2.38

33.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$1.00 BAM 1.72

117.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$1.61 BAM 2.76

-36.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.91 BAM 1.56

17.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$3.65 BAM 6.24

12.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$7.96 BAM 13.63

27.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$1.24 BAM 2.13

35.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$1.26 BAM 2.16

100.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$2.93 BAM 5.01

-82.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$35.42 BAM 60.7

-26.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$1.76 BAM 3.01

83.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.81 BAM 1.39

197.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$10.55 BAM 18.07

-69.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.48 BAM 2.54

-10.81%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$23.6K BAM 40.5K

25.63%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$21.4K BAM 36.7K

10.48%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$87.9 BAM 150

-6.67%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$18.96 BAM 32.47

21.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$23.33 BAM 39.95

29.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$25.78 BAM 44.15

101.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$10.94 BAM 18.73

69.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$2.87 BAM 4.91

73.52%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$154 BAM 264

27.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$3,215 BAM 5,506

65.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$59.9 BAM 103

-40.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$29.91 BAM 51.2

34.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$59.8 BAM 102

31.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$120 BAM 206

-25.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$174 BAM 298

445.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$145 BAM 249

225.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$382 BAM 655

329.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$331 BAM 566

266.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$1,418 BAM 2,428

186.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$1,250 BAM 2,141

417.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$690 BAM 1,181

-5.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

4.14

175.85%

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 Gradiska: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $174 in Gradiska. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Gradiska, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Gradiska. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $230 – making Gradiska the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Gradiska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,224 in Gradiska. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $154 in Gradiska. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gradiska, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Gradiska it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gradiska – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Gradiska. 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.