😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,116 in Gramsh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,692 in Gramsh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,269 in Gramsh, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 13% more than Gramsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Gramsh are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Gramsh18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$9.95ALL 789
16.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$40.38ALL 3,200
16.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$7.39ALL 585
60.76%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$1.98ALL 157
101.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$1.99ALL 158
-28.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.71ALL 56.3
15.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$2.47ALL 195
29.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.50ALL 277
94.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$2.00ALL 159
-16.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.94ALL 74.5
134.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$2.05ALL 163
-16.59%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$2.77ALL 220
-1.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$10.53ALL 835
-9.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$8.87ALL 703
1.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$14.73ALL 1,167
-13.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$2.05ALL 162
40.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$2.39ALL 190
-37.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.73ALL 137
24.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.62ALL 129
39.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$1.12ALL 88.5
76.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$1.25ALL 99.2
59.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$1.18ALL 93.1
4.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.86ALL 68.0
39.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$4.52ALL 358
0.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$9.90ALL 785
4.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.82ALL 144
-10.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.90ALL 151
51.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.56ALL 44.34
7.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$21.37ALL 1,694
34.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$3.76ALL 298
43.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$3.82ALL 303
-2.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$18.85ALL 1,494
-69.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$2.18ALL 173
-29.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$35.3KALL 2.8M
-36.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$25.8KALL 2.0M
1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$63.6ALL 5,039
43.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$16.30ALL 1,292
54.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$17.69ALL 1,402
76.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$63.4ALL 5,020
6.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$9.01ALL 714
-46.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$99.3ALL 7,872
125.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$50.6ALL 4,009
-6.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$57.5ALL 4,559
-23.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$102ALL 8,063
-21.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$150ALL 11.9K
-38.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$511ALL 40.5K
108.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$368ALL 29.2K
6.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$746ALL 59.1K
188.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$497ALL 39.4K
155.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$1,701ALL 134.8K
135.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$1,376ALL 109.1K
372.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gramsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5
129.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Gramsh: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $511 in Gramsh. 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $40.00 in Gramsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $262 – making Gramsh 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 Gramsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gramsh cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,674 in Gramsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gramsh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $99.3 in Gramsh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Gramsh?
Groceries cost about 5% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Gramsh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gramsh, where all-in costs run around $1,116, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Gramsh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gramsh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gramsh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gramsh. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared