😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,539 in Berane versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,411 in Berane versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,284 in Berane versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Berane is roughly 22% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Berane is 15% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50€14.07
$11.67MX$202
41.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.5€55.9
$41.88MX$726
56.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.35€9.69
$10.40MX$180
9.13%
Cappuccino
$2.96€2.53
$3.61MX$62.6
-18.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.84
$1.47MX$25.45
46.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.27
$0.91MX$15.80
63.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.03
$3.03MX$52.6
17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86€3.30
$4.47MX$77.4
-13.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38€1.18
$1.38MX$23.83
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.15€0.98
$1.84MX$31.93
-37.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42€2.06
$1.61MX$27.82
50.31%
Eggs
$3.26€2.78
$2.57MX$44.52
26.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.83€7.53
$8.49MX$147
4.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34€7.11
$8.49MX$147
-1.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83€10.09
$10.99MX$190
7.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.29€1.10
$2.73MX$47.25
-52.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.48
$1.50MX$25.92
16.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67€1.43
$1.96MX$33.93
-14.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.90€2.48
$2.12MX$36.70
36.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04€0.89
$1.86MX$32.30
-44.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28€1.09
$2.17MX$37.67
-41.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72€1.47
$1.07MX$18.59
60.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.01
$1.05MX$18.18
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38€3.74
$4.19MX$72.6
4.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.74€4.05
$10.28MX$178
-53.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.09
$1.67MX$28.87
-23.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.47
$2.49MX$43.12
-30.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43€1.22
$0.54MX$9.37
164.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.21€32.59
$26.27MX$455
45.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18€1.01
$3.10MX$53.8
-61.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01€0.86
$2.46MX$42.66
-58.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.04€14.53
$3.24MX$56.1
425.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.47
$1.26MX$21.83
37.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K€25.4K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-1.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€22.6K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
12.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162€138
$84.0MX$1,456
92.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.70€15.95
$22.21MX$385
-15.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.26€28.37
$29.65MX$514
12.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.61€38.05
$52.6MX$912
-15.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.31€12.21
$18.34MX$318
-21.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65€4.82
$4.95MX$85.7
14.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407€347
$198MX$3,438
105.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K€8,711
$5,322MX$92.2K
91.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118€100
$35.95MX$623
226.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.01€41.81
$40.06MX$694
22.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€94.3
$78.8MX$1,365
40.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201€171
$86.5MX$1,499
132.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$729€622
$977MX$16.9K
-25.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$545€465
$471MX$8,158
15.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,279€1,091
$1,595MX$27.6K
-19.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$914€780
$1,215MX$21.1K
-24.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,250€3,626
$4,032MX$69.9K
5.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,856€2,436
$6,579MX$114.0K
-56.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$593€506
$714MX$12.4K
-16.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.93
11.42
-48.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Berane: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Berane and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $66 in Berane vs $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $236 vs $252, with Berane 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
Berane vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Berane?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Berane or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 20% less. 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 Berane and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Berane versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Berane vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,539 per month in Berane versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 45% less than in Berane. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Berane or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,539 in Berane, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Berane. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Berane or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Berane, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Berane or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Berane and Playa del Carmen 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 22% less than in Berane. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.