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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,240 per month in Uijeongbu vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Uijeongbu vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,782 per month in Uijeongbu vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Uijeongbu is about 2% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Uijeongbu and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Uijeongbu 7% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 ₩8,580

$11.67 MX$202

-50.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 ₩80.2K

$41.88 MX$726

29.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ₩8,556

$10.40 MX$180

-44.33%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ₩4,933

$3.61 MX$62.6

-7.48%

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

$1.13 ₩1,669

$1.47 MX$25.45

-23.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₩1,253

$0.91 MX$15.80

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ₩3,277

$3.03 MX$52.6

-26.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₩4,282

$4.47 MX$77.4

-35.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₩3,313

$1.38 MX$23.83

62.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 ₩5,159

$1.84 MX$31.93

89.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.21 ₩4,742

$1.61 MX$27.82

99.38%

Eggs

$3.18 ₩4,706

$2.57 MX$44.52

23.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 ₩21.5K

$8.49 MX$147

71.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 ₩15.9K

$8.49 MX$147

27.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.37 ₩50.8K

$10.99 MX$190

212.74%

Apples (1kg)

$7.79 ₩11.5K

$2.73 MX$47.25

185.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.43 ₩5,077

$1.50 MX$25.92

128.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 ₩8,355

$1.96 MX$33.93

188.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.53 ₩9,651

$2.12 MX$36.70

208.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ₩5,894

$1.86 MX$32.30

114.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,400

$2.17 MX$37.67

37.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 ₩3,894

$1.07 MX$18.59

145.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₩1,706

$1.05 MX$18.18

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩5,034

$4.19 MX$72.6

-18.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 ₩22.4K

$10.28 MX$178

47.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₩3,484

$1.67 MX$28.87

41.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₩5,007

$2.49 MX$43.12

36.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₩1,643

$0.54 MX$9.37

105.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ₩5,241

$3.10 MX$53.8

14.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ₩776

$2.46 MX$42.66

-78.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 ₩12.9K

$3.24 MX$56.1

168.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₩1,851

$1.26 MX$21.83

-0.79%

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

$27.9K ₩41.3M

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-7.47%

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

$24.6K ₩36.4M

$23.4K MX$406.3K

4.99%

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

$145 ₩214.8K

$84.0 MX$1,456

72.96%

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

$34.88 ₩51.6K

$22.21 MX$385

57.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.29 ₩33.0K

$29.65 MX$514

-24.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.72 ₩70.5K

$52.6 MX$912

-9.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 ₩16.2K

$4.95 MX$85.7

120.81%

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

$407 ₩602.3K

$198 MX$3,438

105.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K ₩34.4M

$5,322 MX$92.2K

337.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ₩87.7K

$35.95 MX$623

64.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.72 ₩70.6K

$40.06 MX$694

19.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 ₩119.5K

$78.8 MX$1,365

2.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₩171.9K

$86.5 MX$1,499

34.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 ₩376.0K

$977 MX$16.9K

-73.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 ₩331.8K

$471 MX$8,158

-52.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ₩708.8K

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-69.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₩589.8K

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-67.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,304 ₩12.3M

$4,032 MX$69.9K

105.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,354 ₩7.9M

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-18.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,005 ₩3.0M

$714 MX$12.4K

180.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

11.42

-63.75%

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

Last update for Uijeongbu: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Uijeongbu versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. 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 181% higher in Uijeongbu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Uijeongbu versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $489 vs $252 – making Playa del Carmen 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

Uijeongbu vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,860 per month in Uijeongbu and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Uijeongbu, 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 $1,240 in Uijeongbu and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $407 per month in Uijeongbu and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Uijeongbu, where all-in costs run around $1,240, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Uijeongbu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Uijeongbu – 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 Uijeongbu. 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.