๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,577 in Gualdo Tadino, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,390 in Gualdo Tadino, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,204 in Gualdo Tadino, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 20% cheaper than Gualdo Tadino, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Gualdo Tadino is 17% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$17.17โฌ14.61
-32.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$40.98โฌ34.87
4.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$11.60โฌ9.88
-8.62%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.42โฌ1.21
152.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$1.72โฌ1.46
-15.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.12โฌ0.95
-19.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.67โฌ4.82
-46.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$5.15โฌ4.38
-11.46%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.36โฌ1.16
6.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.17โฌ1.85
-15.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.00โฌ2.55
-46.33%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$1.42โฌ1.21
78.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$17.58โฌ14.96
-51.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$12.06โฌ10.26
-29.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$15.97โฌ13.59
-32.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.41โฌ2.05
13.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.23โฌ1.90
-33.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$1.97โฌ1.68
-1.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$2.66โฌ2.27
-18.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.77โฌ1.51
4.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.84โฌ1.57
19.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.33โฌ1.13
-19.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.28โฌ0.24
285.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$6.97โฌ5.93
-41.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$4.23โฌ3.60
147.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.85โฌ1.57
-10.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.74โฌ2.33
-6.93%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$1.69โฌ1.44
-66.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$43.47โฌ36.99
-39.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.34โฌ4.55
-41.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.57โฌ1.34
50.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$34.83โฌ29.64
-90.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.02โฌ1.72
-35.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$29.4Kโฌ25.1K
3.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$29.2Kโฌ24.8K
-18.39%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$157โฌ134
-47.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$10.83โฌ9.22
104.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$19.29โฌ16.41
52.26%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$54.8โฌ46.67
-6.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$23.53โฌ20.03
-20.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$11.51โฌ9.80
-57.52%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$545โฌ464
-63.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$10.4Kโฌ8,852
-49.94%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$75.1โฌ63.9
-52.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$35.33โฌ30.06
11.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$86.2โฌ73.4
-6.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$120โฌ102
-26.86%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$751โฌ639
28.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$589โฌ501
-18.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,230โฌ1,047
33.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$930โฌ791
28.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$3,034โฌ2,582
30.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$2,228โฌ1,896
192.34%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gualdo Tadino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.95
189.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Gualdo Tadino: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $751 in Gualdo Tadino. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $41 in Gualdo Tadino. Groceries tell a different story โ $253 in Playa del Carmen vs $301 in Gualdo Tadino โ so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Gualdo Tadino: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gualdo Tadino cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Gualdo Tadino is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,366 in Gualdo Tadino. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $545 in Gualdo Tadino. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Gualdo Tadino?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Gualdo Tadino, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Gualdo Tadino?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Gualdo Tadino at $1,577. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gualdo Tadino it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gualdo Tadino more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Gualdo Tadino?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gualdo Tadino makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared