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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $617 in Guelmim, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $997 in Guelmim, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,378 in Guelmim, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 110% more than Guelmim, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Guelmim are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Guelmim 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$2.76 MAD 25.38

325.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$25.29 MAD 233

64.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.72 MAD 61.9

58.33%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$1.75 MAD 16.12

101.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.17

$0.66 MAD 6.10

128.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.26 MAD 2.36

273.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$3.73 MAD 34.32

-20.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$3.72 MAD 34.26

19.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$0.91 MAD 8.42

51.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$0.37 MAD 3.40

410.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$0.92 MAD 8.45

78.26%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$1.79 MAD 16.53

40.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$7.15 MAD 65.8

16.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$3.32 MAD 30.53

151.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$10.12 MAD 93.2

6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$1.40 MAD 12.89

85.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.24 MAD 11.44

17.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$0.82 MAD 7.52

131.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$0.59 MAD 5.47

252.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$0.65 MAD 5.98

173.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$0.63 MAD 5.83

247.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$0.68 MAD 6.27

52.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.64 MAD 5.90

68.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$4.09 MAD 37.65

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$7.12 MAD 65.6

44.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.30 MAD 11.97

31.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$1.57 MAD 14.44

64.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.74 MAD 6.84

-31.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

$16.62 MAD 153

59.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$0.69 MAD 6.32

372.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$0.63 MAD 5.76

295.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$6.68 MAD 61.5

-51.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$1.57 MAD 14.46

-16.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$27.3K MAD 251.6K

10.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

11.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,436

$28.49 MAD 262

190.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$385

$10.86 MAD 100

104.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$22.01 MAD 203

33.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$24.45 MAD 225

111.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$23.38 MAD 215

-21.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$6.67 MAD 61.4

-23.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,480

$77.0 MAD 709

160.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$1,929 MAD 17.8K

170.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$19.31 MAD 178

91.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$16.56 MAD 152

140.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$49.32 MAD 454

59.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$33.53 MAD 309

159.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$289 MAD 2,665

236.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$195 MAD 1,799

139.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$588 MAD 5,414

179.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$383 MAD 3,529

218.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

$1,589 MAD 14.6K

148.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

$943 MAD 8,683

588.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$331 MAD 3,046

100.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.5

107.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Guelmim: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $289 in Guelmim. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 101% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Guelmim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $150 – making Guelmim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Guelmim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 110%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $925 in Guelmim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guelmim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $617 in Guelmim. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 59% less in Guelmim. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guelmim, where all-in costs run around $617, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Guelmim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guelmim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Guelmim. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.