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: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,389 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,697 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,005 in Gyeonggi.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 10% less than in Gyeonggi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Gyeonggi is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$7.20 ₩10.6K
66.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$85.4 ₩125.9K
-51.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$6.72 ₩9,908
59.97%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$3.56 ₩5,250
-1.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.38 ₩2,041
5.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$0.71 ₩1,043
23.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$4.45 ₩6,572
-33.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$2.88 ₩4,255
56.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$2.17 ₩3,209
-34.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$3.04 ₩4,482
-39.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$3.13 ₩4,616
-49.84%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$2.88 ₩4,242
-12.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$10.48 ₩15.5K
-20.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$8.16 ₩12.0K
3.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$27.93 ₩41.2K
-61.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$10.94 ₩16.1K
-76.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$3.73 ₩5,505
-61.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$7.52 ₩11.1K
-73.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$5.28 ₩7,796
-60.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$3.90 ₩5,749
-52.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$2.90 ₩4,278
-25.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$2.26 ₩3,328
-54.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$1.16 ₩1,718
-7.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$3.27 ₩4,829
25.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$1.80 ₩2,653
-6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$3.24 ₩4,773
-21.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$1.12 ₩1,653
-54.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$3.13 ₩4,611
3.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$0.54 ₩790
346.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$8.57 ₩12.6K
-62.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$1.36 ₩2,004
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$27.2K ₩40.1M
9.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$24.9K ₩36.7M
-4.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$188 ₩278.0K
-56.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$39.25 ₩57.9K
-41.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$20.92 ₩30.9K
43.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$55.0 ₩81.2K
-5.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$10.04 ₩14.8K
-50.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$419 ₩618.1K
-52.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$23.1K ₩34.1M
-76.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$57.7 ₩85.2K
-38.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$41.38 ₩61.1K
-2.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$85.7 ₩126.5K
-8.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$114 ₩168.4K
-22.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$505 ₩744.5K
87.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$369 ₩544.0K
28.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$2,114 ₩3.1M
-22.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$1,468 ₩2.2M
-17.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gyeonggi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$2,041 ₩3.0M
-67.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3.5
226.29%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $505 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gyeonggi pays 212% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $85.0 in Gyeonggi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $422 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 Gyeonggi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gyeonggi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% 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 212% 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: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $505 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $419 in Gyeonggi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Gyeonggi?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $85.0 in Gyeonggi. 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,389 in Gyeonggi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Gyeonggi. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gyeonggi more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gyeonggi, 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Gyeonggi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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