🙂A single person spends $940 per month in Abakan vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Abakan vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,972 per month in Abakan vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Abakan is about 27% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Abakan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Abakan32% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.18₽1,236
$11.71MX$199
21.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.99₽2,789
$46.59MX$791
-31.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80₽1,029
$11.65MX$198
1.29%
Cappuccino
$2.87₽250
$4.09MX$69.5
-29.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₽92.2
$1.37MX$23.34
-22.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₽40.99
$0.83MX$14.16
-43.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.94₽82.3
$3.35MX$56.9
-71.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₽134
$6.91MX$117
-77.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28₽111
$1.73MX$29.33
-26.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91₽79.1
$2.26MX$38.39
-59.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40₽210
$1.77MX$30.05
35.59%
Eggs
$1.71₽149
$2.73MX$46.41
-37.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.30₽1,073
$9.18MX$156
33.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.53₽482
$8.92MX$151
-38.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.83₽857
$12.60MX$214
-21.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85₽249
$3.02MX$51.3
-5.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92₽167
$1.57MX$26.68
22.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11₽184
$2.13MX$36.10
-0.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18₽278
$2.26MX$38.46
40.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76₽66.5
$2.00MX$34.04
-62.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72₽62.9
$2.06MX$35.06
-65.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13₽98.1
$1.18MX$20.04
-4.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90₽78.5
$1.20MX$20.45
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16₽189
$4.63MX$78.7
-53.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.32₽812
$10.69MX$182
-12.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34₽117
$1.62MX$27.50
-17.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79₽156
$2.88MX$48.93
-37.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42₽36.88
$0.57MX$9.74
-26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$507
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19₽104
$5.45MX$92.5
-78.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07₽92.9
$3.70MX$62.9
-71.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.15₽187
$5.98MX$102
-64.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82₽71.4
$1.55MX$26.38
-47.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K₽3.6M
$22.3KMX$379.2K
87.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K₽3.2M
$25.9KMX$440.7K
40.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.2₽6,901
$89.1MX$1,514
-11.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.76₽676
$25.04MX$425
-69.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.69₽671
$31.50MX$535
-75.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.48₽3,965
$67.8MX$1,151
-32.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$491
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.75₽501
$5.05MX$85.8
13.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$225MX$3,820
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,222MX$71.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.67₽3,720
$47.44MX$806
-10.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.90₽4,350
$44.98MX$764
10.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107₽9,286
$82.0MX$1,392
29.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0₽6,972
$92.1MX$1,564
-13.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$323₽28.1K
$1,069MX$18.2K
-69.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239₽20.9K
$405MX$6,884
-40.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479₽41.8K
$1,935MX$32.9K
-75.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₽29.8K
$1,301MX$22.1K
-73.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,557₽135.8K
$3,995MX$67.9K
-61.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,269₽110.7K
$6,626MX$112.5K
-80.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abakan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546₽47.6K
$749MX$12.7K
-27.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22
11.45
92.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abakan: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $323 in Abakan versus $1,069 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 37% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Abakan versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $277 – making Abakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Abakan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Abakan?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,410 per month in Abakan and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Abakan and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Abakan or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Abakan and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Abakan or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $940, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Abakan or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abakan. 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.