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 $1,039 per month in Calafat vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,539 per month in Calafat vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,038 per month in Calafat vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Calafat is about 18% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calafat and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Calafat 22% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.15 RON 41.62

$11.72 MX$203

-21.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.16 RON 192

$41.89 MX$725

0.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 RON 35.73

$10.51 MX$182

-25.21%

Cappuccino

$2.35 RON 10.70

$3.59 MX$62.0

-34.54%

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

$0.88 RON 4.00

$1.51 MX$26.10

-41.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 RON 4.05

$0.92 MX$15.83

-3.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 RON 5.09

$2.96 MX$51.2

-62.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 RON 9.46

$4.41 MX$76.3

-52.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 RON 5.89

$1.40 MX$24.16

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 RON 3.81

$1.88 MX$32.60

-55.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 RON 6.76

$1.56 MX$26.97

-4.49%

Eggs

$2.50 RON 11.35

$2.61 MX$45.14

-4.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.60 RON 34.57

$8.32 MX$144

-8.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 RON 30.68

$8.35 MX$145

-19.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.03 RON 31.94

$10.86 MX$188

-35.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 RON 5.16

$2.71 MX$46.93

-58.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.22

$1.51 MX$26.04

5.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.44

$1.87 MX$32.41

-24.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.17

$2.19 MX$37.89

-27.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 RON 3.00

$1.86 MX$32.14

-64.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 RON 3.77

$2.23 MX$38.59

-62.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 RON 3.83

$1.07 MX$18.48

-21.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 RON 3.34

$1.09 MX$18.79

-33.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 RON 26.94

$4.19 MX$72.4

41.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.55 RON 29.77

$10.43 MX$180

-37.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RON 4.36

$1.66 MX$28.68

-42.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 RON 9.69

$2.61 MX$45.19

-18.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$0.54 MX$9.37

24.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.92 RON 90.6

$26.16 MX$453

-23.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 RON 2.71

$3.08 MX$53.3

-80.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 RON 2.26

$2.40 MX$41.61

-79.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 RON 31.81

$3.13 MX$54.1

123.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 RON 7.12

$1.31 MX$22.69

19.85%

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

$28.4K RON 129.0K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-4.77%

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

$27.6K RON 125.7K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

18.53%

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

$206 RON 938

$81.3 MX$1,406

153.80%

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

$8.14 RON 37.00

$22.56 MX$390

-63.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.99 RON 31.77

$30.05 MX$520

-76.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.99 RON 191

$52.9 MX$915

-20.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.47 RON 88.5

$18.39 MX$318

5.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.42 RON 29.21

$4.92 MX$85.1

30.49%

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

$432 RON 1,962

$201 MX$3,474

114.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,832 RON 40.2K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

70.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.0 RON 354

$35.92 MX$622

117.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.32 RON 170

$40.13 MX$694

-7.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 RON 362

$79.7 MX$1,379

-0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 RON 390

$86.5 MX$1,496

-0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 RON 1,786

$978 MX$16.9K

-59.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 RON 1,346

$470 MX$8,140

-37.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 RON 2,705

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-63.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 RON 1,974

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-63.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,762 RON 8,009

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-55.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 RON 5,662

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-81.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$819 RON 3,724

$677 MX$11.7K

21.06%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $393 in Calafat versus $978 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 21% 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 $42.00 in Calafat versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $252 – 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: $1,039 in Calafat, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 21% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,559 per month in Calafat and $1,890 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 $1,039 in Calafat and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% 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 $1,039, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $1,039 in Calafat to $1,260 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.