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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,088 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,066 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,044 in Gyeonggi.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 16% more expensive than in Gyeonggi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Gyeonggi 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$7.37 ₩10.2K
57.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$59.6 ₩82.1K
-20.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$6.29 ₩8,674
88.87%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$3.91 ₩5,383
1.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$1.22 ₩1,676
17.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$0.72 ₩991
13.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$3.26 ₩4,493
-2.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$3.00 ₩4,128
126.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.73 ₩2,389
-2.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
-
-
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$11.21 ₩15.4K
-74.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$3.60 ₩4,967
-58.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$7.35 ₩10.1K
-70.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$3.05 ₩4,200
76.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.61 ₩840
511.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.40 ₩1,927
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$185 ₩254.6K
-50.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$40.38 ₩55.6K
-37.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$21.44 ₩29.5K
45.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$56.4 ₩77.7K
19.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$9.98 ₩13.8K
-51.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$59.5 ₩82.1K
-20.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$41.29 ₩56.9K
7.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$85.0 ₩117.2K
-5.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$512 ₩704.9K
107.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$376 ₩517.7K
3.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$2,119 ₩2.9M
1.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$1,495 ₩2.1M
-14.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$2,227 ₩3.1M
-65.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.5
227.14%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $512 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gyeonggi pays 194% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $60.0 in Gyeonggi. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $124, with Gyeonggi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gyeonggi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gyeonggi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Gyeonggi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Gyeonggi?
On paper, salaries run 194% lower in Gyeonggi. 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 Gyeonggi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $512 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Gyeonggi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Gyeonggi?
Dining out is cheaper in Gyeonggi – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Gyeonggi?
At $1,088 in Gyeonggi versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gyeonggi more family-friendly?
For families, Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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