🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,092 in Cacak versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,625 in Cacak versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,159 in Cacak versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Cacak costs roughly 13% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cacak18% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.47RSD 760
$11.72MX$203
-36.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.47RSD 4,015
$41.89MX$725
-5.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.73RSD 1,091
$10.51MX$182
2.09%
Cappuccino
$1.63RSD 165
$3.59MX$62.0
-54.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RSD 217
$1.51MX$26.10
41.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44RSD 146
$0.92MX$15.83
56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.64RSD 269
$2.96MX$51.2
-10.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54RSD 258
$4.41MX$76.3
-42.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26RSD 129
$1.40MX$24.16
-10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76RSD 77.7
$1.88MX$32.60
-59.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81RSD 285
$1.56MX$26.97
80.13%
Eggs
$2.56RSD 261
$2.61MX$45.14
-1.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.99RSD 406
$8.32MX$144
-52.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79RSD 691
$8.35MX$145
-18.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.52RSD 1,273
$10.86MX$188
15.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25RSD 127
$2.71MX$46.93
-53.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85RSD 188
$1.51MX$26.04
22.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RSD 159
$1.87MX$32.41
-16.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43RSD 247
$2.19MX$37.89
10.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RSD 95.0
$1.86MX$32.14
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88RSD 89.1
$2.23MX$38.59
-60.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77RSD 77.8
$1.07MX$18.48
-28.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61RSD 61.6
$1.09MX$18.79
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34RSD 441
$4.19MX$72.4
3.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.42RSD 551
$10.43MX$180
-48.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RSD 90.6
$1.66MX$28.68
-46.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RSD 225
$2.61MX$45.19
-15.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98RSD 99.5
$0.54MX$9.37
81.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.11RSD 2,859
$26.16MX$453
7.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.95RSD 198
$3.08MX$53.3
-36.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RSD 65.5
$2.40MX$41.61
-73.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.55RSD 971
$3.13MX$54.1
205.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68RSD 171
$1.31MX$22.69
28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRSD 2.8M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-7.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KRSD 2.9M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
20.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RSD 14.9K
$81.3MX$1,406
79.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.42RSD 1,976
$22.56MX$390
-13.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53RSD 1,987
$30.05MX$520
-35.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.16RSD 3,067
$52.9MX$915
-43.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.23RSD 1,650
$18.39MX$318
-11.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32RSD 643
$4.92MX$85.1
28.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341RSD 34.7K
$201MX$3,474
69.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,344RSD 747.0K
$5,175MX$89.5K
41.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109RSD 11.1K
$35.92MX$622
203.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.54RSD 4,733
$40.13MX$694
15.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125RSD 12.7K
$79.7MX$1,379
56.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135RSD 13.8K
$86.5MX$1,496
56.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380RSD 38.6K
$978MX$16.9K
-61.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291RSD 29.6K
$470MX$8,140
-38.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555RSD 56.5K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-66.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$412RSD 42.0K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-65.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,177RSD 221.4K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-44.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,629RSD 165.7K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-75.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$752RSD 76.5K
$677MX$11.7K
11.18%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Cacak and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 11% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $252 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 11% higher in Cacak, 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: $380 in Cacak versus $978 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 $341 in Cacak versus $201 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 $1,092 in Cacak versus $1,260 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 15% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.