πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,029 in Korolyov versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Korolyov versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Korolyov versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Korolyov costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Korolyov23% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.09β½683
$11.94MX$209
-23.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.73β½1,557
$42.75MX$748
-51.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31β½399
$10.59MX$185
-49.86%
Cappuccino
$2.05β½154
$3.62MX$63.4
-43.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87β½65.6
$1.47MX$25.69
-40.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39β½29.55
$0.94MX$16.51
-58.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.09β½307
$3.09MX$54.1
32.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91β½144
$4.46MX$78.0
-57.17%
π Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18β½88.4
$1.43MX$24.94
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45β½33.85
$1.88MX$32.97
-76.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36β½102
$1.63MX$28.50
-16.56%
Eggs
$1.56β½117
$2.64MX$46.26
-40.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.14β½912
$8.21MX$144
47.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27β½396
$8.29MX$145
-36.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.97β½599
$11.10MX$194
-28.20%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95β½147
$2.65MX$46.40
-26.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65β½124
$1.50MX$26.26
10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30β½173
$1.99MX$34.79
15.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.05β½304
$2.08MX$36.33
94.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.43β½32.43
$1.79MX$31.29
-75.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85β½63.9
$2.18MX$38.09
-61.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63β½122
$1.08MX$18.84
50.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57β½42.83
$1.04MX$18.15
-45.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54β½191
$3.97MX$69.5
-36.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.82β½813
$10.20MX$179
6.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13β½84.9
$1.73MX$30.22
-34.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40β½105
$2.50MX$43.71
-44.00%
π Getting Around
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70β½52.8
$0.52MX$9.07
34.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.93β½1,647
$26.97MX$472
-18.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53β½190
$3.14MX$55.0
-19.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45β½33.72
$2.40MX$42.04
-81.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.97β½598
$3.09MX$54.0
157.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79β½59.1
$1.27MX$22.28
-37.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8Kβ½2.9M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5Kβ½1.5M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-12.28%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124β½9,350
$82.0MX$1,435
51.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.54β½416
$22.45MX$393
-75.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.16β½613
$29.66MX$519
-72.49%
π Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.18β½2,342
$51.9MX$908
-39.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.52β½1,165
$18.67MX$327
-16.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.48β½411
$4.97MX$87.0
10.26%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$711β½53.4K
$198MX$3,462
259.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kβ½1.1M
$5,273MX$92.3K
180.36%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8β½4,265
$36.34MX$636
56.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.18β½1,892
$40.05MX$701
-37.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$37.50β½2,816
$79.9MX$1,398
-53.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.9β½4,350
$88.9MX$1,555
-34.84%
π Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$462β½34.7K
$963MX$16.9K
-52.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380β½28.6K
$465MX$8,133
-18.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702β½52.7K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-56.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$497β½37.3K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-58.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,428β½182.4K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-38.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,905β½143.1K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-70.46%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,091β½82.0K
$720MX$12.6K
51.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
11.42
31.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Korolyov: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $462 in Korolyov and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Korolyov pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $21.00 in Korolyov vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $251 per month, with Korolyov cheaper across the board.
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 β living expenses run 25% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Korolyov pays 51% more on average, 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $462 in Korolyov versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Korolyov vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Korolyov runs roughly 23% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Korolyov and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $711 in Korolyov versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Korolyov or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,029 in Korolyov versus $1,287 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,029 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 β expenses run 25% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.