😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,540 in Berane versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,384 in Berane versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,228 in Berane versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Berane is roughly 22% more expensive than in 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
$16.07€14.12
$11.95MX$209
34.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.9€59.7
$41.94MX$734
61.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.54€10.15
$10.42MX$182
10.75%
Cappuccino
$2.93€2.58
$3.51MX$61.5
-16.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.97
$1.52MX$26.53
47.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.26
$0.91MX$15.93
57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38€2.97
$3.04MX$53.2
11.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84€3.38
$4.37MX$76.5
-12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39€1.22
$1.42MX$24.86
-2.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11€0.97
$1.83MX$32.03
-39.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42€2.13
$1.63MX$28.60
48.47%
Eggs
$3.14€2.76
$2.54MX$44.43
23.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.02€7.93
$8.57MX$150
5.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.50€7.47
$8.49MX$149
0.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.81€10.38
$10.80MX$189
9.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31€1.15
$2.75MX$48.19
-52.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78€1.57
$1.44MX$25.13
23.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68€1.48
$1.89MX$33.00
-11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78€2.45
$2.17MX$37.96
28.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08€0.95
$1.78MX$31.13
-39.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25€1.10
$2.22MX$38.91
-43.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79€1.57
$1.07MX$18.70
67.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.03
$1.08MX$18.89
9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35€3.82
$4.15MX$72.5
4.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.44€3.90
$10.45MX$183
-57.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.14
$1.74MX$30.50
-25.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.54
$2.58MX$45.16
-31.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46€1.29
$0.51MX$8.98
186.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.48€32.95
$25.94MX$454
44.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13€1.00
$3.21MX$56.2
-64.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01€0.89
$2.50MX$43.78
-59.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.59€15.46
$3.19MX$55.7
451.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.58
$1.26MX$21.98
42.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K€26.1K
$29.7KMX$519.3K
-0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K€23.5K
$23.7KMX$414.3K
13.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160€141
$82.0MX$1,435
95.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.60€16.35
$22.73MX$398
-18.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.62€29.55
$29.42MX$515
14.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.10€39.64
$52.2MX$913
-13.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.09€12.38
$18.45MX$323
-23.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74€5.05
$4.93MX$86.3
16.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$420€369
$202MX$3,530
108.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1K€8,921
$5,217MX$91.3K
94.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114€99.9
$35.93MX$629
216.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.56€42.69
$40.33MX$706
20.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€97.0
$79.9MX$1,397
38.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202€178
$89.3MX$1,562
126.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$717€631
$948MX$16.6K
-24.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$529€465
$465MX$8,140
13.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,242€1,092
$1,630MX$28.5K
-23.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$934€821
$1,193MX$20.9K
-21.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,224€3,714
$3,933MX$68.8K
7.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,799€2,460
$6,428MX$112.4K
-56.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$566€498
$658MX$11.5K
-13.95%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Berane and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Berane vs $42.00 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, salaries run 16% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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: $717 in Berane versus $948 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,540 per month in Berane versus $1,259 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 44% 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 living in Berane or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,540 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.