🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,096 in Cacak versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Cacak versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,186 in Cacak versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Cacak costs roughly 15% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cacak18% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35RSD 737
$11.94MX$208
-38.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84RSD 3,894
$42.75MX$744
-9.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.91RSD 1,093
$10.59MX$184
3.02%
Cappuccino
$1.55RSD 155
$3.62MX$63.0
-57.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12RSD 213
$1.47MX$25.54
44.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44RSD 144
$0.94MX$16.41
53.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52RSD 253
$3.09MX$53.8
-18.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64RSD 265
$4.46MX$77.6
-40.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30RSD 130
$1.43MX$24.80
-9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76RSD 76.0
$1.88MX$32.79
-59.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81RSD 282
$1.63MX$28.34
72.39%
Eggs
$2.70RSD 270
$2.64MX$45.99
2.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.93RSD 394
$8.21MX$143
-52.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.82RSD 684
$8.29MX$144
-17.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.82RSD 1,286
$11.10MX$193
15.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30RSD 130
$2.65MX$46.14
-50.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90RSD 191
$1.50MX$26.11
26.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RSD 156
$1.99MX$34.59
-21.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56RSD 257
$2.08MX$36.13
23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01RSD 101
$1.79MX$31.11
-43.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RSD 94.4
$2.18MX$37.87
-56.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81RSD 80.8
$1.08MX$18.73
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57RSD 56.9
$1.04MX$18.04
-45.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56RSD 457
$3.97MX$69.1
14.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58RSD 559
$10.20MX$178
-45.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85RSD 85.3
$1.73MX$30.04
-50.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20RSD 221
$2.50MX$43.46
-12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99RSD 99.0
$0.52MX$9.02
90.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.80RSD 2,787
$26.97MX$469
3.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.99RSD 199
$3.14MX$54.7
-36.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RSD 69.0
$2.40MX$41.80
-71.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.32RSD 934
$3.09MX$53.7
201.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71RSD 172
$1.27MX$22.16
34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4KRSD 2.8M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-11.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KRSD 2.9M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
22.51%
🧾 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
$82.0MX$1,427
78.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67RSD 1,973
$22.45MX$391
-12.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.90RSD 1,996
$29.66MX$516
-32.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.90RSD 3,098
$51.9MX$903
-40.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.48RSD 1,652
$18.67MX$325
-11.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.25RSD 627
$4.97MX$86.5
25.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$339RSD 34.0K
$198MX$3,442
71.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,268RSD 728.7K
$5,273MX$91.7K
37.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107RSD 10.7K
$36.34MX$632
194.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.26RSD 4,638
$40.05MX$697
15.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125RSD 12.6K
$79.9MX$1,390
56.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141RSD 14.1K
$88.9MX$1,547
58.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$373RSD 37.4K
$963MX$16.8K
-61.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294RSD 29.4K
$465MX$8,086
-36.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574RSD 57.6K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-64.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$416RSD 41.7K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-65.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,139RSD 214.4K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-45.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,578RSD 158.2K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-75.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$757RSD 75.9K
$720MX$12.5K
5.08%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $373 in Cacak and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 5% 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 $199 vs $251 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 5% 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: $373 in Cacak versus $963 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 $339 in Cacak versus $198 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 $1,096 in Cacak versus $1,287 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.