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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Korolyov versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,826 in Korolyov versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Korolyov versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Korolyov costs roughly 4% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Korolyov 9% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76 ₽989
$11.96 MX$203
-1.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 ₽4,944
$47.38 MX$804
24.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 ₽585
$11.75 MX$199
-40.77%
Cappuccino
$2.73 ₽230
$4.12 MX$70.0
-33.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₽75.8
$1.40 MX$23.74
-35.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₽47.85
$0.91 MX$15.48
-37.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.90 ₽75.3
$3.21 MX$54.4
-71.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₽119
$7.07 MX$120
-79.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 ₽99.4
$1.68 MX$28.44
-29.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ₽71.2
$2.15 MX$36.48
-60.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 ₽95.1
$1.77 MX$30.10
-36.16%
Eggs
$1.52 ₽128
$2.82 MX$47.76
-46.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.62 ₽724
$9.20 MX$156
-6.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.75 ₽483
$9.23 MX$157
-37.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 ₽972
$12.64 MX$214
-8.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 ₽136
$2.95 MX$50.1
-45.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ₽120
$1.58 MX$26.79
-10.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ₽129
$2.22 MX$37.70
-31.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.44 ₽289
$2.36 MX$40.09
45.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₽54.9
$1.99 MX$33.81
-67.34%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₽30.79
$1.98 MX$33.58
-81.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₽117
$1.24 MX$21.04
12.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽77.1
$1.21 MX$20.55
-23.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 ₽171
$4.60 MX$78.1
-55.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 ₽896
$10.52 MX$178
1.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₽59.5
$1.69 MX$28.70
-57.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₽119
$2.77 MX$47.06
-48.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ₽75.3
$0.60 MX$10.22
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 ₽295
$5.24 MX$88.8
-33.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.18 ₽15.24
$3.65 MX$61.9
-95.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 ₽292
$5.78 MX$98.1
-39.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 ₽66.4
$1.54 MX$26.09
-48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K ₽2.9M
$22.8K MX$386.8K
53.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K ₽2.3M
$25.8K MX$437.9K
5.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₽10.2K
$90.7 MX$1,538
33.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.78 ₽402
$25.19 MX$427
-81.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.35 ₽702
$31.75 MX$539
-73.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$142 ₽11.9K
$68.8 MX$1,167
106.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 ₽427
$4.86 MX$82.5
4.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$177 ₽14.9K
$226 MX$3,828
-21.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,543 ₽297.8K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
-15.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 ₽4,913
$47.38 MX$804
23.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.59 ₽2,403
$43.45 MX$737
-34.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 ₽11.7K
$80.2 MX$1,361
74.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ₽9,715
$91.4 MX$1,550
26.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 ₽43.7K
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-52.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$431 ₽36.2K
$409 MX$6,933
5.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$771 ₽64.8K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-60.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$519 ₽43.6K
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-59.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,352 ₽197.7K
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-41.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,092 ₽175.8K
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-68.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,179 ₽99.1K
$773 MX$13.1K
52.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.5
11.45
52.84%

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

Last update for Korolyov: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $520 in Korolyov and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Korolyov vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $278, with Korolyov cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Korolyov vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Korolyov or Playa del Carmen?
Korolyov wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korolyov the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Korolyov or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 53% higher in Korolyov, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Korolyov compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $520 in Korolyov versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Korolyov or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Korolyov compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Korolyov versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Korolyov or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Korolyov versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korolyov but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Korolyov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Korolyov or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Korolyov delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Korolyov hard to pass up.
How safe is Korolyov compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Korolyov 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Korolyov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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