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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $693 per month in Brest vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Brest vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,529 per month in Brest vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Brest is about 45% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brest and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Brest 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.49 BYN 21.56

$11.99 MX$210

-37.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.44 BYN 84.8

$41.78 MX$733

-29.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 BYN 19.50

$10.75 MX$189

-37.02%

Cappuccino

$1.49 BYN 4.29

$3.50 MX$61.3

-57.43%

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

$0.77 BYN 2.21

$1.45 MX$25.41

-46.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 BYN 1.96

$0.88 MX$15.52

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 BYN 3.57

$2.95 MX$51.7

-57.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 BYN 8.08

$4.51 MX$79.1

-37.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 BYN 2.34

$1.43 MX$25.12

-43.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 BYN 1.93

$1.84 MX$32.23

-63.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 BYN 2.38

$1.57 MX$27.51

-47.13%

Eggs

$1.37 BYN 3.94

$2.51 MX$44.06

-45.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.78 BYN 19.53

$8.28 MX$145

-18.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 BYN 10.13

$8.43 MX$148

-58.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.62 BYN 10.43

$10.68 MX$187

-66.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 BYN 3.74

$2.61 MX$45.76

-50.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 BYN 4.81

$1.44 MX$25.22

15.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 BYN 5.06

$1.96 MX$34.41

-10.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 BYN 5.06

$2.09 MX$36.74

-15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 BYN 2.19

$1.85 MX$32.47

-58.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 BYN 2.45

$2.17 MX$38.02

-60.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 BYN 3.77

$1.03 MX$18.09

27.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 BYN 3.17

$1.07 MX$18.84

2.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 BYN 5.19

$4.10 MX$72.0

-56.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 BYN 23.68

$10.17 MX$178

-19.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 BYN 3.15

$1.68 MX$29.38

-35.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 BYN 5.21

$2.53 MX$44.31

-28.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BYN 0.86

$0.51 MX$8.93

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 BYN 42.06

$26.04 MX$457

-43.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 BYN 6.01

$3.23 MX$56.7

-35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 BYN 1.83

$2.41 MX$42.19

-73.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 BYN 17.31

$3.23 MX$56.6

86.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 BYN 2.38

$1.32 MX$23.17

-37.88%

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

$17.5K BYN 50.3K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-41.23%

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

$25.9K BYN 74.5K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

9.25%

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

$50.8 BYN 146

$82.0 MX$1,439

-38.11%

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

$8.62 BYN 24.84

$22.95 MX$403

-62.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.44 BYN 64.6

$30.11 MX$528

-25.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.13 BYN 83.9

$52.0 MX$912

-43.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 BYN 13.54

$4.98 MX$87.3

-5.62%

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

$311 BYN 895

$197 MX$3,463

57.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,642 BYN 16.2K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

5.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.41 BYN 137

$35.60 MX$624

33.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.98 BYN 104

$40.33 MX$707

-10.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BYN 302

$78.8 MX$1,381

33.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 BYN 231

$88.9 MX$1,560

-9.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 BYN 973

$947 MX$16.6K

-64.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 BYN 492

$474 MX$8,314

-63.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 BYN 1,408

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-70.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$308 BYN 888

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-74.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,473 BYN 7,123

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-39.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,933 BYN 8,448

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-54.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$558 BYN 1,608

$654 MX$11.5K

-14.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-3.68%

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

Last update for Brest: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $338 in Brest versus $947 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 17% 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 $29.00 in Brest versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $249 – making Brest 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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 81% more than Brest, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,039 per month in Brest and $1,884 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 Brest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Brest and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Brest, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Brest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brest costs $693 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Brest. 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.