😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $635 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $980 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Gresik.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 100% more expensive than Gresik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Gresik53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$207
$1.26Rp 22.6K
842.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$747
$11.09Rp 199.3K
286.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$186
$2.98Rp 53.5K
257.38%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$60.1
$1.45Rp 26.1K
137.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$26.19
$0.39Rp 6,946
284.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.52
$0.16Rp 2,789
493.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.7
$1.58Rp 28.4K
91.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$80.3
$2.37Rp 42.6K
94.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.96
$1.11Rp 19.9K
24.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$32.18
$1.13Rp 20.4K
63.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$28.06
$0.75Rp 13.4K
114.67%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.18
$1.32Rp 23.7K
96.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$144
$8.85Rp 159.1K
-6.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$146
$3.10Rp 55.6K
170.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$186
$6.83Rp 122.7K
56.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.80
$2.31Rp 41.5K
13.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.92
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-3.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.44
$2.12Rp 38.0K
-9.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.34
$1.47Rp 26.5K
42.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.35
$1.32Rp 23.7K
40.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.39
$1.73Rp 31.0K
30.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.51
$1.08Rp 19.5K
-1.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.95
$0.38Rp 6,901
186.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.3
$2.14Rp 38.4K
93.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$181
$11.32Rp 203.4K
-8.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$30.03
$1.20Rp 21.6K
43.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.52
$2.38Rp 42.8K
9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.44
$0.32Rp 5,785
68.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$469
$10.05Rp 180.6K
168.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$0.45Rp 7,996
595.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.73
$0.31Rp 5,575
709.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.9
$2.78Rp 49.9K
13.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.21
$0.63Rp 11.2K
101.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$529.1K
$21.0KRp 376.7M
44.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$410.5K
$35.2KRp 631.9M
-33.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,446
$82.0Rp 1.5M
1.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$396
$4.17Rp 74.9K
444.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$513
$19.78Rp 355.4K
48.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$888
$22.19Rp 398.6K
129.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$319
$6.31Rp 113.4K
190.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$85.8
$2.39Rp 43.0K
106.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,437
$19.94Rp 358.2K
889.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$92.0K
$9,463Rp 170.0M
-44.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$643
$43.39Rp 779.6K
-14.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$695
$24.58Rp 441.6K
62.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,394
$74.3Rp 1.3M
7.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,559
$68.8Rp 1.2M
30.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.7K
$260Rp 4.7M
267.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,311
$156Rp 2.8M
205.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.7K
$585Rp 10.5M
181.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.3K
$330Rp 5.9M
271.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$68.3K
$1,021Rp 18.3M
283.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$112.5K
$624Rp 11.2M
935.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.6K
$177Rp 3.2M
277.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.33
37.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Gresik: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $260 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 278% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $11.00 in Gresik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $180 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 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Gresik?
Playa del Carmen pays 278% more on average, 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: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $260 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 Gresik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% 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 Gresik?
Dining out is cheaper in Gresik – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $43.00 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 Playa del Carmen or Gresik?
At $635 in Gresik versus $1,271 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 100% 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