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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Gudja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,817 in Gudja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,829 in Gudja.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 28% less than in Gudja, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Gudja is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$11.97 €10.32
-0.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$89.8 €77.4
-47.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$13.98 €12.05
-15.95%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$2.30 €1.98
79.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$1.89 €1.63
-25.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$1.03 €0.89
-11.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$2.26 €1.95
42.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$3.27 €2.82
116.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.33 €1.14
26.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$1.34 €1.16
60.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$2.93 €2.53
-39.59%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$3.74 €3.23
-24.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$8.29 €7.14
10.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$10.16 €8.75
-9.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$19.06 €16.43
-33.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$2.35 €2.02
25.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$2.00 €1.73
-21.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$2.59 €2.23
-14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$2.72 €2.35
-13.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$1.69 €1.46
17.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$2.13 €1.84
-7.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$1.05 €0.90
18.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$0.89 €0.77
35.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$5.98 €5.15
-23.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$8.48 €7.31
24.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.60 €1.38
5.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$1.73 €1.49
60.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$1.98 €1.71
-69.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$17.66 €15.22
68.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$5.66 €4.88
-7.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$2.31 €1.99
58.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$27.47 €23.68
-78.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$1.53 €1.32
0.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$27.9K €24.0K
-18.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$26.0K €22.4K
-0.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$105 €90.5
-13.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$17.67 €15.23
42.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$29.10 €25.08
9.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$140 €120
-50.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$23.39 €20.16
25.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$10.48 €9.04
-53.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$384 €331
-41.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$11.3K €9,770
-63.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$82.7 €71.3
-42.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$41.37 €35.66
5.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$76.4 €65.9
4.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$82.7 €71.3
10.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$933 €804
16.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$864 €745
-52.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$1,464 €1,262
34.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$1,381 €1,190
-7.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$1,965 €1,694
105.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$1,784 €1,538
275.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gudja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$1,388 €1,196
-44.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.9
294.83%

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 Gudja: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $933 in Gudja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gudja pays 79% 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 $90.0 in Gudja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $287 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Gudja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gudja cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Gudja?
On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Gudja. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Gudja?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $933 in Gudja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Gudja?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $90.0 in Gudja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Gudja?
All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Gudja – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Gudja?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Gudja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gudja. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gudja more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gudja, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Gudja?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Gudja are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Gudja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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