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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Carmen 5% lower, Gresik 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$1.16 Rp 20.4K
931.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$10.13 Rp 178.3K
367.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$3.08 Rp 54.2K
281.49%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$1.55 Rp 27.4K
165.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$0.40 Rp 7,095
250.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$0.23 Rp 4,063
295.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$2.28 Rp 40.1K
40.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$2.21 Rp 38.9K
219.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.29 Rp 22.6K
30.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$1.31 Rp 23.0K
64.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$0.86 Rp 15.1K
105.81%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$1.08 Rp 19.0K
161.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$7.66 Rp 134.8K
20.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$3.11 Rp 54.8K
196.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$7.62 Rp 134.1K
65.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$2.05 Rp 36.1K
43.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
18.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$1.93 Rp 34.0K
15.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$1.50 Rp 26.4K
57.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$1.37 Rp 24.1K
45.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.95 Rp 34.4K
1.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
63.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.41 Rp 7,138
195.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$1.89 Rp 33.3K
143.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$11.26 Rp 198.2K
-6.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.78 Rp 31.3K
-5.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$2.71 Rp 47.7K
2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$0.27 Rp 4,717
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$8.71 Rp 153.3K
240.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$0.47 Rp 8,215
1014.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$0.47 Rp 8,267
676.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$2.74 Rp 48.2K
110.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$0.81 Rp 14.3K
90.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$36.0K Rp 633.0M
-36.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$26.5K Rp 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)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$88.3 Rp 1.6M
2.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$4.70 Rp 82.8K
435.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$19.39 Rp 341.4K
63.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$28.32 Rp 498.6K
142.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$8.41 Rp 148.0K
249.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$2.76 Rp 48.5K
76.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$52.9 Rp 931.4K
326.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$9,754 Rp 171.7M
-57.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$42.91 Rp 755.5K
10.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$22.48 Rp 395.8K
93.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
8.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$76.1 Rp 1.3M
20.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$170 Rp 3.0M
537.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$117 Rp 2.1M
250.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$307 Rp 5.4M
542.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$250 Rp 4.4M
412.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$1,201 Rp 21.1M
236.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$677 Rp 11.9M
890.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$115 Rp 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.

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