😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $582 in Guizhou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $924 in Guizhou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,266 in Guizhou.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 123% more expensive than Guizhou, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Guizhou57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$2.15¥14.58
445.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$19.48¥132
113.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$5.30¥35.89
100.75%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$3.12¥21.15
12.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$0.41¥2.75
268.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$0.24¥1.61
304.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$0.68¥4.60
333.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$1.36¥9.24
227.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$1.96¥13.27
-29.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$1.35¥9.15
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$0.85¥5.74
92.94%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$2.03¥13.74
23.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$13.65¥92.5
-38.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.82¥32.63
73.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$10.64¥72.0
0.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$1.60¥10.83
62.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$1.48¥10.02
-1.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$1.02¥6.89
86.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$1.12¥7.60
85.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$0.47¥3.21
278.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$0.55¥3.70
298.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$0.51¥3.43
103.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.53¥3.57
103.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$2.74¥18.56
48.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$7.42¥50.3
39.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$0.74¥5.03
131.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$2.58¥17.51
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.34¥2.28
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$16.94¥115
56.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.69¥11.46
92.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$0.28¥1.92
789.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$6.86¥46.48
-52.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$1.17¥7.94
11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$13.9K¥93.9K
118.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$15.4K¥104.0K
52.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$27.34¥185
203.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$5.64¥38.23
293.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$8.57¥58.0
242.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$17.59¥119
193.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$13.88¥94.0
31.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$6.92¥46.88
-26.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$299¥2,025
-32.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$10.8K¥72.8K
-51.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$34.65¥235
6.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$24.45¥166
62.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$59.9¥406
30.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$39.25¥266
121.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$278¥1,880
250.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$134¥910
248.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$357¥2,417
360.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$226¥1,532
439.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$1,817¥12.3K
117.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$1,090¥7,382
496.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Guizhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$688¥4,660
-3.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.4
235.88%
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 Guizhou: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $278 in Guizhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guizhou pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $19.00 in Guizhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $203 per month, with Guizhou 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 Guizhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guizhou cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Guizhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 123% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Guizhou?
On paper, Guizhou earns 4% less. 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 Guizhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $278 in Guizhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Guizhou runs roughly 56% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $299 in Guizhou. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Guizhou?
At $582 in Guizhou versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Guizhou but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Guizhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Guizhou more family-friendly?
For families, Guizhou 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or Guizhou?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Guizhou 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 Guizhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% 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