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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,051 per month in Calafat vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,557 per month in Calafat vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,063 per month in Calafat vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Calafat is about 19% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calafat and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Calafat 21% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.12 RON 41.06

$11.73 MX$202

-22.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.25 RON 186

$41.78 MX$719

-1.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 RON 36.05

$10.41 MX$179

-23.15%

Cappuccino

$2.32 RON 10.46

$3.61 MX$62.1

-35.73%

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

$0.93 RON 4.20

$1.46 MX$25.06

-36.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 RON 3.94

$0.97 MX$16.70

-10.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 RON 5.11

$2.92 MX$50.3

-61.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 RON 9.21

$4.62 MX$79.5

-55.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 RON 5.83

$1.43 MX$24.59

-9.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 RON 4.05

$1.90 MX$32.70

-52.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 RON 6.81

$1.57 MX$26.95

-3.82%

Eggs

$2.54 RON 11.45

$2.64 MX$45.34

-3.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.68 RON 34.60

$8.44 MX$145

-9.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 RON 30.52

$8.58 MX$148

-20.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 RON 30.56

$11.00 MX$189

-38.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.33

$2.70 MX$46.51

-56.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 RON 7.30

$1.51 MX$25.92

7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.10

$1.91 MX$32.93

-29.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.11

$2.17 MX$37.37

-27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 RON 2.97

$1.87 MX$32.25

-64.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 RON 3.76

$2.23 MX$38.43

-62.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RON 3.55

$1.08 MX$18.60

-26.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 RON 3.36

$1.07 MX$18.47

-29.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.93 RON 26.72

$4.16 MX$71.6

42.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.99 RON 26.98

$10.29 MX$177

-41.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 RON 4.35

$1.68 MX$28.95

-42.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 RON 9.20

$2.53 MX$43.59

-19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$0.55 MX$9.53

21.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.50 RON 87.8

$26.29 MX$452

-25.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 RON 2.73

$3.20 MX$55.0

-80.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 RON 2.25

$2.46 MX$42.37

-79.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 RON 31.20

$3.20 MX$55.0

116.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.19

$1.32 MX$22.72

21.21%

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

$27.7K RON 124.7K

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-8.17%

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

$27.0K RON 121.7K

$23.4K MX$402.5K

15.48%

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

$207 RON 932

$81.4 MX$1,400

154.33%

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

$8.16 RON 36.73

$22.41 MX$386

-63.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.89 RON 31.05

$29.97 MX$516

-77.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.66 RON 188

$51.6 MX$887

-19.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 RON 87.2

$18.39 MX$316

5.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 RON 29.29

$5.16 MX$88.9

25.97%

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

$442 RON 1,990

$202 MX$3,471

118.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,885 RON 40.0K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

67.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.1 RON 352

$35.61 MX$613

119.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.49 RON 169

$40.37 MX$695

-7.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 RON 350

$78.6 MX$1,353

-1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.0 RON 387

$86.9 MX$1,495

-0.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 RON 1,778

$950 MX$16.3K

-58.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 RON 1,300

$478 MX$8,227

-39.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 RON 2,661

$1,621 MX$27.9K

-63.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 RON 1,952

$1,223 MX$21.0K

-64.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,097 RON 9,445

$4,009 MX$69.0K

-47.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 RON 6,458

$6,473 MX$111.4K

-77.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$830 RON 3,738

$673 MX$11.6K

23.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-47.46%

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

Last update for Calafat: June 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $395 in Calafat versus $950 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 23% higher in Calafat, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Calafat versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $254 – making Calafat 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,051 in Calafat, $1,294 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 23% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,576 per month in Calafat and $1,941 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 Calafat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,051 in Calafat and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Calafat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calafat, where all-in costs run around $1,051, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Calafat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,051 in Calafat to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Calafat. 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.