😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $610 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $926 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,241 in Gresik.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 114% more expensive than in Gresik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Gresik56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$1.16Rp 20.4K
931.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$10.13Rp 178.3K
367.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$3.08Rp 54.2K
281.49%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$1.55Rp 27.4K
165.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.40Rp 7,095
250.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.23Rp 4,063
295.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$2.28Rp 40.1K
40.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$2.21Rp 38.9K
219.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.29Rp 22.6K
30.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$1.31Rp 23.0K
64.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$0.86Rp 15.1K
105.81%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.08Rp 19.0K
161.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$7.66Rp 134.8K
20.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$3.11Rp 54.8K
196.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$7.62Rp 134.1K
65.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$2.05Rp 36.1K
43.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.33Rp 23.4K
18.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.93Rp 34.0K
15.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$1.50Rp 26.4K
57.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.37Rp 24.1K
45.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.95Rp 34.4K
1.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.76Rp 13.4K
63.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.41Rp 7,138
195.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$1.89Rp 33.3K
143.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$11.26Rp 198.2K
-6.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.78Rp 31.3K
-5.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.71Rp 47.7K
2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.27Rp 4,717
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$8.71Rp 153.3K
240.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$0.47Rp 8,215
1014.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.47Rp 8,267
676.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$2.74Rp 48.2K
110.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$0.81Rp 14.3K
90.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$36.0KRp 633.0M
-36.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$26.5KRp 467.0M
-2.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$88.3Rp 1.6M
2.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$4.70Rp 82.8K
435.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$19.39Rp 341.4K
63.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$28.32Rp 498.6K
142.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$8.41Rp 148.0K
249.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$2.76Rp 48.5K
76.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$52.9Rp 931.4K
326.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$9,754Rp 171.7M
-57.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$42.91Rp 755.5K
10.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$22.48Rp 395.8K
93.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$73.6Rp 1.3M
8.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$76.1Rp 1.3M
20.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$170Rp 3.0M
537.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$117Rp 2.1M
250.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$307Rp 5.4M
542.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$250Rp 4.4M
412.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$1,201Rp 21.1M
236.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$677Rp 11.9M
890.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$115Rp 2.0M
574.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.5
52.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Gresik: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $170 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 575% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $10.00 in Gresik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $181 per month, with Gresik 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 Gresik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gresik cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Gresik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Gresik?
Average pay runs 575% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Gresik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $170 in Gresik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Gresik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Gresik?
Dining out is cheaper in Gresik – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Gresik?
At $610 in Gresik versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gresik but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gresik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gresik more family-friendly?
For families, Gresik is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gresik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Playa del Carmen. 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