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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $799 in Gradiska, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,319 in Gradiska, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,840 in Gradiska, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 62% more than Gradiska, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Gradiska are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Gradiska 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$5.75 BAM 9.65

104.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$34.94 BAM 58.7

19.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$5.70 BAM 9.57

86.67%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$1.07 BAM 1.80

228.97%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-12.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.21 BAM 2.04

-19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$1.74 BAM 2.93

69.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$2.04 BAM 3.43

118.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.40 BAM 2.35

-1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.17 BAM 1.97

61.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.76 BAM 2.97

-6.82%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$3.97 BAM 6.67

-36.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.31 BAM 12.29

14.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.54 BAM 12.68

10.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$15.43 BAM 25.92

-30.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$1.21 BAM 2.03

114.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.57 BAM 2.65

-7.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.16 BAM 1.95

63.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.65 BAM 2.77

26.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.44 BAM 2.43

23.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$1.05 BAM 1.76

108.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$1.64 BAM 2.75

-36.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.84 BAM 1.42

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$3.59 BAM 6.03

13.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$8.32 BAM 13.98

24.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.26 BAM 2.11

35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$1.25 BAM 2.10

106.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$2.90 BAM 4.87

-82.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$35.68 BAM 60.0

-25.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$1.78 BAM 3.00

83.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.83 BAM 1.40

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$10.65 BAM 17.89

-69.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.51 BAM 2.54

-13.25%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$23.5K BAM 39.5K

28.82%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$21.2K BAM 35.6K

10.72%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$89.3 BAM 150

-7.16%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$18.65 BAM 31.34

19.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$23.87 BAM 40.10

22.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$25.66 BAM 43.11

101.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$10.71 BAM 18.00

71.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$3.03 BAM 5.10

67.33%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$155 BAM 260

29.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$3,303 BAM 5,549

57.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$58.7 BAM 98.7

-37.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$29.33 BAM 49.29

35.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$58.2 BAM 97.8

34.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$117 BAM 197

-25.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$174 BAM 292

460.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$149 BAM 251

213.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$385 BAM 647

326.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$322 BAM 541

279.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$1,496 BAM 2,513

163.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$1,274 BAM 2,140

410.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$711 BAM 1,195

-6.67%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Gradiska: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 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 7% 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 $231 – 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 62%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,198 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $155 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 $799, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.