Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gresik

For one person, living is cheaper in Gresik: $593 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Gresik, Indonesia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Gresik
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$593
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Gresik

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Gresik actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $593 in Gresik.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Gresik $593

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $903 in Gresik.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Gresik $903

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,213 in Gresik.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Gresik $1,213

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 103% more expensive than in Gresik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Gresik 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$1.08 Rp 19.5K
911.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$810
$9.76 Rp 175.9K
344.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$3.00 Rp 54.1K
292.67%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.2
$1.61 Rp 28.9K
136.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.96
$0.42 Rp 7,608
204.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.63
$0.22 Rp 3,968
254.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.2
$2.15 Rp 38.8K
47.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.2
$2.06 Rp 37.1K
139.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.28
$1.19 Rp 21.4K
18.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.43
$1.26 Rp 22.8K
76.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.48
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
59.55%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.14
$1.09 Rp 19.6K
131.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$7.72 Rp 139.1K
-5.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
159.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$7.29 Rp 131.5K
74.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.0
$1.99 Rp 35.8K
39.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.56
$1.24 Rp 22.4K
10.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.66
$1.82 Rp 32.8K
40.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.67
$1.51 Rp 27.3K
40.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.22
$1.35 Rp 24.3K
43.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.24
$1.94 Rp 35.0K
-2.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.42
$0.75 Rp 13.6K
53.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.03
$0.40 Rp 7,163
195.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.3
$1.82 Rp 32.9K
136.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$186
$10.97 Rp 197.7K
-9.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.59
$1.73 Rp 31.2K
-8.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.91
$2.77 Rp 49.9K
-3.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.34
$0.23 Rp 4,148
139.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$497
$11.74 Rp 211.6K
126.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.9
$0.50 Rp 8,928
894.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.2
$0.43 Rp 7,747
674.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$100
$2.66 Rp 47.9K
101.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.98
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$386.2K
$35.7K Rp 642.7M
-42.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$438.5K
$25.2K Rp 454.3M
-6.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,584
$84.7 Rp 1.5M
0.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$437
$4.68 Rp 84.4K
400.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$535
$19.38 Rp 349.3K
47.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,066
$23.57 Rp 424.9K
142.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$540
$8.38 Rp 151.0K
244.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.0
$2.54 Rp 45.8K
102.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,860
$52.9 Rp 953.2K
290.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.4K
$9,259 Rp 166.9M
-57.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$810
$41.12 Rp 741.2K
5.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$774
$22.39 Rp 403.5K
85.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,386
$75.0 Rp 1.4M
-1.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,668
$73.9 Rp 1.3M
20.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$167 Rp 3.0M
487.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,116
$114 Rp 2.1M
234.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.9K
$307 Rp 5.5M
455.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.1K
$241 Rp 4.3M
345.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.7K
$1,216 Rp 21.9M
224.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.1K
$906 Rp 16.3M
579.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$108 Rp 2.0M
577.90%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Gresik: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Gresik
$114 70.1% $267
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Gresik
$176 30.8% $78
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Gresik
$54 73.1% $148
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Gresik
$109 20.5% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Gresik
$96 14.5% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Gresik
$29 57.4% $39
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Gresik
$15 69.7% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $167 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays about 6.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $10 in Gresik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $176 per month, with Gresik cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇩 Gresik
🕒 Local time
03:56 3:56 AM
15:56 3:56 PM
12 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.69 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.8 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,025 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.55 USD). 1 EUR = 20,061 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Gresik 17,420 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Gresik

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 eating out, groceries, and leisure. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Gresik?
Average pay in Playa del Carmen is about 6.8 times higher, 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: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $167 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 44% 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 versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Gresik?
At $593 in Gresik versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 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 it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Gresik?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gresik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% 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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