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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,640 in Guimaraes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,354 in Guimaraes, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,069 in Guimaraes, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 22% cheaper than Guimaraes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Guimaraes is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$10.31 €8.83
15.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$45.96 €39.34
-6.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$9.00 €7.70
17.67%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$1.92 €1.64
88.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$1.94 €1.66
-24.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$1.17 €1.00
-19.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$2.64 €2.26
17.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$3.38 €2.89
31.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.10 €0.94
30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.56 €1.34
20.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.73 €1.48
-5.78%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$3.00 €2.56
-12.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$11.21 €9.60
-26.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$7.93 €6.79
4.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$14.09 €12.06
-21.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.00 €1.71
32.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$1.42 €1.22
5.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.89 €1.62
5.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.95 €2.52
-29.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$1.33 €1.14
34.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.89 €1.62
15.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.69 €1.45
-36.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.96 €0.82
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$6.15 €5.27
-35.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$4.60 €3.94
121.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.27 €1.08
36.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$2.33 €1.99
7.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$2.71 €2.32
-80.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$32.36 €27.70
-16.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$4.30 €3.68
-26.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.19 €1.01
101.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$14.23 €12.18
-78.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.95 €1.67
-34.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$37.1K €31.7K
-16.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$39.3K €33.6K
-40.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$134 €115
-38.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$21.67 €18.55
3.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$45.30 €38.77
-34.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$45.72 €39.14
13.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$8.18 €7.00
-39.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$350 €299
-43.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$8,424 €7,211
-37.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$69.5 €59.5
-47.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$38.87 €33.27
3.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$91.4 €78.3
-12.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$100 €85.6
-11.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$924 €791
4.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$777 €665
-40.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$1,489 €1,275
7.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$1,125 €963
7.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$2,988 €2,557
31.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$2,389 €2,045
169.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Guimaraes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$1,302 €1,114
-44.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.43
110.31%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Guimaraes: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $924 in Guimaraes. 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 81% higher in Guimaraes, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $46.00 in Guimaraes. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $248 in Guimaraes – so Guimaraes 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 Guimaraes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Guimaraes?
Guimaraes costs about 27% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Guimaraes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,459 in Guimaraes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Guimaraes?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Guimaraes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $46.00 in Guimaraes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Guimaraes?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,640 in Guimaraes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Guimaraes?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Guimaraes at $1,640. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guimaraes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Guimaraes?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $1,640 in Guimaraes. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Guimaraes?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Guimaraes?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guimaraes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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