🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Cacak versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,621 in Cacak versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,151 in Cacak versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Cacak costs roughly 14% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cacak19% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.28RSD 736
$11.87MX$204
-38.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.10RSD 3,955
$42.90MX$736
-8.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04RSD 1,116
$10.65MX$183
3.66%
Cappuccino
$1.60RSD 162
$3.45MX$59.2
-53.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RSD 223
$1.50MX$25.81
47.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45RSD 147
$0.95MX$16.28
52.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55RSD 258
$3.03MX$51.9
-15.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50RSD 253
$4.61MX$79.1
-45.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27RSD 128
$1.38MX$23.61
-7.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81RSD 81.8
$1.85MX$31.70
-56.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80RSD 284
$1.61MX$27.65
73.91%
Eggs
$2.58RSD 261
$2.59MX$44.51
-0.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.83RSD 388
$8.26MX$142
-53.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.01RSD 709
$8.37MX$144
-16.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.68RSD 1,282
$10.66MX$183
18.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.29RSD 131
$2.63MX$45.12
-50.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83RSD 185
$1.49MX$25.53
22.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RSD 158
$1.92MX$32.94
-18.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46RSD 249
$2.09MX$35.81
17.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RSD 93.8
$1.86MX$31.88
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95RSD 95.7
$2.26MX$38.81
-57.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81RSD 81.9
$1.06MX$18.23
-23.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57RSD 57.6
$1.09MX$18.67
-47.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41RSD 446
$4.15MX$71.2
6.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.49RSD 555
$10.39MX$178
-47.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RSD 91.6
$1.72MX$29.59
-47.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24RSD 226
$2.61MX$44.85
-14.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91RSD 92.0
$0.54MX$9.30
68.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.02RSD 2,834
$26.94MX$462
4.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.97RSD 199
$3.13MX$53.7
-37.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63RSD 63.9
$2.51MX$43.09
-74.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.21RSD 931
$3.15MX$54.1
192.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70RSD 172
$1.27MX$21.88
33.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRSD 2.8M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-9.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KRSD 2.9M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
21.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RSD 14.7K
$83.0MX$1,425
75.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.79RSD 2,001
$22.71MX$390
-12.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79RSD 2,002
$29.46MX$506
-32.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.07RSD 3,142
$51.0MX$875
-39.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.35RSD 1,654
$18.33MX$315
-10.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29RSD 637
$4.93MX$84.5
27.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346RSD 35.0K
$197MX$3,386
75.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,405RSD 748.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
40.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109RSD 11.0K
$36.90MX$633
194.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.54RSD 4,707
$39.89MX$685
16.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124RSD 12.5K
$80.0MX$1,373
54.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137RSD 13.8K
$89.5MX$1,536
53.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370RSD 37.4K
$956MX$16.4K
-61.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301RSD 30.4K
$477MX$8,189
-36.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$559RSD 56.5K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-66.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422RSD 42.7K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-65.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,067RSD 209.0K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-47.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,499RSD 151.6K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-76.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$765RSD 77.4K
$667MX$11.4K
14.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.31
11.42
-35.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cacak: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in Cacak and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Cacak vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $250 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Playa del Carmen?
Cacak pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cacak and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $370 in Cacak versus $956 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 $346 in Cacak versus $197 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% 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 Cacak or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,090 in Cacak versus $1,271 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 17% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.