Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Grants Pass, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Grants Pass, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,502 in Grants Pass, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,482 in Grants Pass, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,461 in Grants Pass, OR.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 48% less than in Grants Pass, OR, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Grants Pass, OR is 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$15.20 $15.20
-22.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$44.18 $44.18
-5.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.10 $9.10
16.92%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$4.11 $4.11
-14.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$2.01 $2.01
-24.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$1.03 $1.03
-5.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$4.85 $4.85
-39.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$4.02 $4.02
10.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.10 $1.10
25.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$3.13 $3.13
-39.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$3.70 $3.70
-55.68%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$4.03 $4.03
-37.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$14.48 $14.48
-42.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$5.35 $5.35
55.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$13.01 $13.01
-17.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$4.17 $4.17
-37.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.27 $1.27
14.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$3.66 $3.66
-48.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$3.90 $3.90
-46.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$1.88 $1.88
-5.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.93 $1.93
13.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.93 $1.93
-46.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$1.67 $1.67
-35.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$10.63 $10.63
-61.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$7.17 $7.17
43.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.61 $1.61
6.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$2.99 $2.99
-13.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$2.04 $2.04
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$3.45 $3.45
-5.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$1.25 $1.25
99.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$40.08 $40.08
-91.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$0.89 $0.89
47.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$27.5K $27.5K
10.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$25.1K $25.1K
-6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$279 $279
-70.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$55.1 $55.1
-59.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$76.0 $76.0
-61.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$43.73 $43.73
18.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$8.10 $8.10
-37.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$1,312 $1,312
-84.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$23.1K $23.1K
-77.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$45.17 $45.17
-18.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$51.7 $51.7
-23.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$86.8 $86.8
-9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$81.4 $81.4
7.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$1,615 $1,615
-39.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$1,340 $1,340
-65.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,615 $2,615
-37.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$2,178 $2,178
-43.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$2,858 $2,858
38.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$2,955 $2,955
119.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Grants Pass, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$2,441 $2,441
-72.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.55
74.35%

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 Grants Pass, OR: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,615 in Grants Pass, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grants Pass, OR pays 268% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $44.00 in Grants Pass, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $311 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 Grants Pass, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Grants Pass, OR?
Playa del Carmen and Grants Pass, OR differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $2,502 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Grants Pass, OR earns 268% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Grants Pass, OR?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,615 in Grants Pass, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Grants Pass, OR. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Grants Pass, OR?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,502 in Grants Pass, OR – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,502 in Grants Pass, OR, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Grants Pass, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Grants Pass, OR?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Grants Pass, OR?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Grants Pass, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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