🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,118 in Cacak versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,656 in Cacak versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,195 in Cacak versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Cacak costs roughly 12% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cacak18% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58RSD 772
$11.60MX$200
-34.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.53RSD 4,028
$47.11MX$811
-16.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79RSD 1,201
$11.88MX$205
-0.76%
Cappuccino
$1.58RSD 161
$3.98MX$68.5
-60.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47RSD 252
$1.43MX$24.57
72.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52RSD 155
$0.82MX$14.20
85.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51RSD 256
$3.19MX$54.9
-21.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61RSD 266
$6.79MX$117
-61.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26RSD 129
$1.68MX$28.85
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76RSD 77.2
$2.20MX$37.83
-65.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80RSD 285
$1.71MX$29.41
63.74%
Eggs
$2.66RSD 271
$2.74MX$47.20
-2.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.84RSD 392
$9.58MX$165
-59.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38RSD 752
$9.01MX$155
-18.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73RSD 1,501
$12.81MX$221
14.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31RSD 133
$2.89MX$49.74
-54.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01RSD 205
$1.50MX$25.78
34.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73RSD 176
$2.15MX$36.98
-19.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76RSD 281
$2.26MX$38.91
22.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05RSD 107
$1.98MX$34.10
-46.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70RSD 71.6
$1.99MX$34.26
-64.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RSD 106
$1.23MX$21.25
-15.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60RSD 61.2
$1.20MX$20.60
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.81RSD 490
$4.55MX$78.3
5.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29RSD 743
$10.37MX$179
-29.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99RSD 100
$1.62MX$27.88
-38.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38RSD 242
$2.88MX$49.60
-17.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02RSD 104
$0.60MX$10.34
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.86RSD 1,718
$28.80MX$496
-41.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.03RSD 207
$5.39MX$92.8
-62.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96RSD 97.8
$3.73MX$64.2
-74.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.10RSD 1,131
$5.77MX$99.3
92.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76RSD 179
$1.54MX$26.45
14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KRSD 2.8M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KRSD 2.7M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
2.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148RSD 15.1K
$91.4MX$1,573
62.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67RSD 2,004
$25.20MX$434
-21.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.07RSD 2,045
$31.24MX$538
-35.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.25RSD 3,184
$67.2MX$1,157
-53.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.70RSD 1,396
$29.11MX$501
-52.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.32RSD 746
$4.86MX$83.7
50.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$384RSD 39.2K
$224MX$3,851
71.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,775RSD 792.3K
$4,229MX$72.8K
83.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$121RSD 12.4K
$47.10MX$811
157.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.28RSD 4,614
$44.29MX$763
2.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143RSD 14.5K
$80.1MX$1,379
78.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143RSD 14.6K
$92.7MX$1,596
54.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320RSD 32.6K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-69.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$271RSD 27.6K
$390MX$6,719
-30.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459RSD 46.8K
$2,149MX$37.0K
-78.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386RSD 39.4K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-69.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,161RSD 220.2K
$4,001MX$68.9K
-46.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,575RSD 160.5K
$6,502MX$112.0K
-75.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$756RSD 77.1K
$758MX$13.1K
-0.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.23
11.45
-54.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cacak: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Cacak and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Cacak vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $276 per month, with Cacak cheaper across the board.
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
Cacak vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Cacak?
Cacak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 0% 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 Cacak and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $320 in Cacak versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $384 in Cacak versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cacak and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cacak or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,118 in Cacak versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cacak but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cacak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cacak or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Cacak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cacak or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Cacak 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 Cacak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.