🙂A single person spends $845 per month in Doboj vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,300 per month in Doboj vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,756 per month in Doboj vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Doboj is about 35% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Doboj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Doboj37% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.39BAM 9.06
$11.73MX$203
-54.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.29BAM 54.3
$41.62MX$720
-22.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.78BAM 9.71
$10.64MX$184
-45.68%
Cappuccino
$1.50BAM 2.52
$3.52MX$60.9
-57.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25BAM 2.11
$1.51MX$26.12
-17.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02BAM 1.71
$0.97MX$16.84
5.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48BAM 2.49
$2.95MX$51.0
-49.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42BAM 2.39
$4.45MX$77.0
-68.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29BAM 2.16
$1.38MX$23.93
-6.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97BAM 1.63
$1.89MX$32.72
-48.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20BAM 2.01
$1.64MX$28.32
-26.83%
Eggs
$2.81BAM 4.72
$2.51MX$43.34
11.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.44BAM 4.10
$8.34MX$144
-70.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.69BAM 12.91
$8.34MX$144
-7.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.09BAM 15.28
$10.73MX$186
-15.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43BAM 2.40
$2.60MX$45.04
-45.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41BAM 2.38
$1.46MX$25.20
-3.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31BAM 2.20
$1.90MX$32.87
-31.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46BAM 2.45
$2.08MX$35.91
-29.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02BAM 1.72
$1.78MX$30.71
-42.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21BAM 2.04
$2.19MX$37.80
-44.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37BAM 0.62
$1.04MX$17.99
-64.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70BAM 1.17
$1.08MX$18.62
-35.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45BAM 5.80
$4.08MX$70.6
-15.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.98BAM 11.73
$10.32MX$178
-32.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10BAM 1.84
$1.71MX$29.61
-35.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32BAM 2.22
$2.58MX$44.54
-48.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.75BAM 2.94
$0.51MX$8.81
243.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.7BAM 90.2
$26.46MX$458
102.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95BAM 1.60
$3.26MX$56.4
-70.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65BAM 1.09
$2.49MX$43.09
-73.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.01BAM 10.10
$3.25MX$56.2
84.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56BAM 2.62
$1.31MX$22.61
19.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KBAM 36.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-28.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KBAM 43.1K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
9.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162BAM 272
$82.9MX$1,433
95.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.83BAM 9.80
$22.22MX$384
-73.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.49BAM 49.54
$29.34MX$507
0.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.65BAM 39.74
$51.6MX$893
-54.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.02BAM 20.19
$18.32MX$317
-34.39%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99BAM 10.06
$5.07MX$87.6
18.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118BAM 198
$201MX$3,473
-41.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,400BAM 5,713
$5,212MX$90.1K
-34.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.34BAM 77.9
$36.92MX$639
25.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.91BAM 58.7
$39.79MX$688
-12.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2BAM 147
$78.5MX$1,357
11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103BAM 173
$87.1MX$1,506
18.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$197BAM 331
$973MX$16.8K
-79.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160BAM 269
$468MX$8,090
-65.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327BAM 550
$1,641MX$28.4K
-80.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322BAM 541
$1,221MX$21.1K
-73.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,312BAM 2,203
$3,946MX$68.3K
-66.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,822BAM 3,060
$6,498MX$112.4K
-71.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Doboj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$544BAM 914
$664MX$11.5K
-18.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
11.42
-66.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Doboj: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Doboj versus $973 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 22% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Doboj versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $249 – making Doboj 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
Doboj vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Doboj?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Doboj and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Doboj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Doboj and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Doboj or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Doboj and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Doboj or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Doboj, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Doboj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Doboj or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Doboj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Doboj or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Doboj. 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.