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City comparison

Playa del Carmen vs Guadalajara

In short

Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.

  • Rent

    in Playa del Carmen cheaper — −23%

  • Internet

    in Playa del Carmen cheaper — −42%

  • Private school

    in Playa del Carmen cheaper — −27%

In numbers

Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.

  • House or apartment rent

    per month
    Playa del Carmen≈ $698–1,490MX$12,500–26,750
    cheaper by 23%
    Guadalajara≈ $1,090–1,770MX$19,800 – 32k
  • Groceries for a family per month, regional estimate

    per month
    Playa del Carmen≈ $392MX$7,067
    Guadalajara≈ $566MX$10,250
  • Family budget

    per month
    Playa del Carmen≈ $1,100MX$19,621
    Guadalajara≈ $1,080MX$19,621

    One figure for the whole country, not calculated per city

  • Internet

    per month
    Playa del Carmen≈ $17–40MX$300–725
    cheaper by 42%
    Guadalajara≈ $21–77MX$389–1,399
  • Private school

    per month
    Playa del Carmen≈ $250–474MX$4,500–8,540
    cheaper by 27%
    Guadalajara≈ $221–773MX$4,000 – 14k
  • Winter

    average
    Playa del Carmen19–29 °C19–29 °C
    Guadalajara10–25 °C10–25 °C
  • Summer

    average
    Playa del Carmen24–33 °C24–33 °C
    Guadalajara17–32 °C17–32 °C
  • Precipitation

    per year
    Playa del Carmen1,490 mm1,490 mm
    Guadalajara972 mm972 mm
  • Ready-made house

    purchase
    Playa del Carmen≈ $251–391kMX$4.5–7M
    cheaper by 11%
    Guadalajara≈ $221–497kMX$4–9M

By topic

A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.

Daily life

Playa del Carmen

Who lives here

According to the 2020 census the city has 304,942 residents, the municipality 333,800. 61% of residents were born in another state of Mexico.

OfficialINEGI: 2020 census, results by locality in Quintana Roo (ITER) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Spread by district

A two-bedroom in the Real Ibiza complexes 8–10.5k pesos, in Centro more often 20–21k, in Playacar 23.5–28k, near Mayakoba 19–27.5k.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Playa del Carmen · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about daily life in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Who lives here

By the 2020 census the municipality of Guadalajara has 1.39 million residents, the five main metro municipalities 4.85 million. 11.5% were born in another state.

OfficialINEGI: 2020 census, results by locality for Jalisco (ITER) · checked 6 Oct 2026

Spread by neighborhood

A two-bedroom in Providencia is mostly 28-35k pesos, in Americana 19.5-22k for 60-90 m², in Chapalita 20-23.5k, in Oblatos and Centro 13.5-15.7k.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for rent in the municipality of Guadalajara · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about daily life in Guadalajara →

Housing

Playa del Carmen

Long-term rent

A two-bedroom by listings: about 20,000 pesos a month. Of 150 offers, 33 are under 15k, 61 are 15 to 25k, 56 are above 25k.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Playa del Carmen · checked 29 Sep 2026

Buying an apartment

Two-bedrooms for sale: 286 listings up to 4.5 million pesos, 275 from 4.5 to 7 million, 312 above. On the first page about 40% of prices are in dollars.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for sale in Playa del Carmen · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Long-term rent

A two-bedroom apartment in listings is about 24,650 pesos a month, half between 19,800 and 32,000. Of 304 offers, 70 are under 20k and 171 above 25k.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for rent in the municipality of Guadalajara · checked 6 Oct 2026

Buying a house

Three-bedroom house: 53 listings up to 4M pesos, 58 from 4 to 9M, 61 above. First-page median about 8.3M, about 33k per square meter.

SpecialistMercado Libre: three-bedroom houses for sale in the municipality of Guadalajara · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about housing in Guadalajara →

Money and prices

Playa del Carmen

Family budget per month

The INEGI poverty line for cities is 4,905.33 pesos per person, 19,621 a month for a family of four (August 2026). A lower threshold without rent, not a real budget.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Groceries for a family

INEGI basket, August 2026: 1,767 pesos per person excluding meals out, about 7,070 a month for a family of four. This is an average for cities across the country, not the price in Playa.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 1 Oct 2026

Everything about money and prices in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Groceries for a family

INEGI's urban food basket is 2562.58 pesos per person a month, 10,250 for a family of four (August 2026). A nationwide figure, the food minimum.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 6 Oct 2026

Family budget per month

INEGI's urban poverty line is 4905.33 pesos per person, 19,621 a month for a family of four (August 2026). A floor without rent, not a real budget.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about money and prices in Guadalajara →

Family and kids

Playa del Carmen

Private schools

Two schools in Playa: IPC La Salle 4,500–6,450 pesos a month (2026–2027), Colegio Inglés up to 8,540 (2025–2026). Entry fee 5,700–8,990 once a year.

OfficialIPC La Salle, Playa del Carmen: home page, tuition questions · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about family and kids in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Private schools

Micole's estimate for Jalisco: primary school 4000-14,000 pesos a month, kindergarten 3000-9000, international 18,000-45,000. Plus a fee of 8000-60,000 a year.

SpecialistMicole: how much a private school costs in Jalisco in 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about family and kids in Guadalajara →

Healthcare

Playa del Carmen

Healthcare on the spot

Private Hospiten Riviera Maya: 23 beds, 2 intensive care, 24-hour emergency, with paediatrics. Hospiten in Cancún has 34 beds and 10 intensive care.

SpecialistHospiten Riviera Maya: hospital page, capacity and departments · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about healthcare in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Private hospitals

According to INEGI, Guadalajara has 76 private medical facilities with 1473 beds, and Zapopan another 26 with 699 beds. Public hospitals are not included.

OfficialINEGI: statistics of private health facilities (ESEP) 2025, report 28/26 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about healthcare in Guadalajara →

Transport

Playa del Carmen

Roads and the airport

To Cancún airport it is about 58 km by road, calculated at 48 minutes without traffic. To the new Tulum airport, 105 km, about an hour and a half.

SpecialistOSRM using OpenStreetMap maps: route from Fundadores park to Cancún airport · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Roads and airport

The airport is 21 km from the cathedral, about 23 minutes without traffic. In August 2026 it handled 1.79 million passengers, 585 thousand of them international.

OfficialGAP: airport passenger traffic for August 2026 (filing on the BMV stock exchange) · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about transport in Guadalajara →

Climate

Playa del Carmen

Winter

The coolest month is January: on average from 19.4 to 28.6 degrees at the Cozumel station across from the city. No cold in the usual sense.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Cozumel · checked 29 Sep 2026

Summer and heat

August is the hottest month: average maximum 33 degrees, about 23.5 at night (Cozumel station). From May to August 32–33 degrees in the day.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Cozumel · checked 29 Sep 2026

Rainfall and seasonality

About 1,490 mm a year. Dry from February to April (32–60 mm a month), rains from June to October, peaking in September and October at 240 mm each.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Cozumel · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about climate in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Rainfall and seasons

About 970 mm a year, 87% of it from June to September, peaking in July at 274 mm. From November to May it is almost dry: 4 to 20 mm a month.

OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Guadalajara · checked 6 Oct 2026

Winter

The coolest month is January: on average 10.2 degrees at night and 24.7 by day. Winter is dry and sunny; the city sits at about 1540 meters.

OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Guadalajara · checked 6 Oct 2026

The hottest time

May is the hottest, before the rains: on average 32.4 degrees by day and 17.2 at night. In July and August, because of the rains, about 27 by day.

OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Guadalajara · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about climate in Guadalajara →

Nature

Playa del Carmen

Sargassum on the beaches

In August 2026 there were about 1.7 million tonnes of seaweed in the western Caribbean, more than in 75% of years since 2011. A decline is expected by November.

SpecialistUSF: sargassum bulletin for the Caribbean Sea, August 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about nature in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Nothing yet

Safety

Playa del Carmen

Hurricanes

Four hurricanes made landfall near the city: Delta and Zeta (October 2020), Grace (August 2021), Beryl (July 2024). Delta was category 2, the rest category 1.

OfficialNHC: Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Beryl (AL022024) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Homicides by the statistics

In 2024 the Solidaridad municipality had 84 homicides, about 25 per 100k residents. In Cancún 39 per 100k, for the state 35.

OfficialINEGI: open data on registered deaths for 2024 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Safety in statistics

In June 2026, 78% of adults in Guadalajara and 54% in Zapopan felt unsafe, versus 59.8% nationwide. Homicides in 2024: 25 per 100,000 residents.

OfficialINEGI: ENSU, perceived safety by city, June 2026 (report 27/26) · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about safety in Guadalajara →

Internet and phone

Playa del Carmen

Internet per month

Fiber of 50–200 Mbps costs 300–725 pesos a month. Telmex, izzi, Megacable and Totalplay are 349–390, often a promotional price. Data from a comparison site, September 2026.

SpecialistSelectra México: internet in Playa del Carmen, providers and plans, September 2026 · checked 1 Oct 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

Internet per month

Telmex: from 389 pesos for 120 Mbps to 1399 for a gigabit. Totalplay 100 Mbps for 390, Megacable 1000 Mbps for 1000 pesos on promotion. Prices are nationwide.

SpecialistExpansión: Telmex, Totalplay, Megacable and Izzi internet packages, September 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Guadalajara →

Services

Playa del Carmen

LP gas: price cap

Price cap for liquefied LP gas (CNE) in Solidaridad for 27.09–3.10.2026: 21.62 pesos per kg, 11.67 per litre. A 20 kg cylinder at the cap is about 432 pesos.

OfficialComisión Nacional de Energía: maximum LP gas prices from 27 September to 3 October 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

CFE electricity on the coast

Tariff for hot regions 1B or 1C: 1.136 pesos per kWh in the base block, 1.381 in the intermediate, above that 4.041. For 300 kWh outside summer about 820–870 pesos with VAT.

SpecialistAiregula Solutions: CFE tariffs for September 2026, residential 1 and 1A-1F · checked 30 Sep 2026

Water and sewerage: Aguakan

Water is supplied by Aguakan. The minimum, per the press, is about 203 pesos a month, up to 298 with sewerage (figures for the state). We did not find the price per cubic metre above the minimum.

SpecialistEl Punto Sobre la i: reform of Quintana Roo's Ley de Cuotas y Tarifas de Agua Potable, minimum payment · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about services in Playa del Carmen →

Guadalajara

LP gas: price cap

LP gas price cap in Guadalajara and Zapopan for 27 Sep - 3 Oct 2026: 20.27 pesos per kg, 10.95 per liter. A 20 kg cylinder at the cap is about 405 pesos.

OfficialComisión Nacional de Energía: maximum LP gas prices from 27 September to 3 October 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Electricity at the CFE tariff

Tariff 1 in September 2026: 1.136 pesos per kWh up to 75, 1.381 up to 140, then 4.041. 300 kWh on it is about 950 pesos with VAT. The house's tariff class is on the bill.

SpecialistRecibo de Luz: CFE tariff 1 steps for September 2026 and DAC thresholds for tariffs 1-1F · checked 6 Oct 2026

Water: SIAPA tariff

SIAPA's average water price in 2023 was 18.16 pesos per m³; in 2025 the tariff rose 9.65%. 15 m³ a month at that price is about 270-300 pesos. Murky water complaints.

SpecialistUnoTV: SIAPA asks for a 12.5% water tariff increase, price per cubic meter in 2023 and 2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026

Everything about services in Guadalajara →

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