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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $918 per month in Maglaj vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,417 per month in Maglaj vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,916 per month in Maglaj vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Maglaj is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Maglaj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Maglaj 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.94 BAM 11.65

$11.73 MX$203

-40.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.95 BAM 58.7

$41.62 MX$720

-16.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 BAM 9.54

$10.64 MX$184

-46.62%

Cappuccino

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$3.52 MX$60.9

-50.57%

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

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$1.51 MX$26.12

22.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BAM 1.94

$0.97 MX$16.84

19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 BAM 4.00

$2.95 MX$51.0

-19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 BAM 3.54

$4.45 MX$77.0

-52.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 BAM 2.27

$1.38 MX$23.93

-2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 BAM 1.70

$1.89 MX$32.72

-46.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 BAM 3.00

$1.64 MX$28.32

9.15%

Eggs

$2.86 BAM 4.80

$2.51 MX$43.34

13.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 BAM 12.63

$8.34 MX$144

-9.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.11 BAM 11.94

$8.34 MX$144

-14.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.84 BAM 16.53

$10.73 MX$186

-8.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$2.60 MX$45.04

-53.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 BAM 2.83

$1.46 MX$25.20

15.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.93

$1.90 MX$32.87

-7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 BAM 3.04

$2.08 MX$35.91

-12.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 BAM 1.96

$1.78 MX$30.71

-34.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$2.19 MX$37.80

-45.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 BAM 1.64

$1.04 MX$17.99

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$1.08 MX$18.62

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 BAM 5.79

$4.08 MX$70.6

-15.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.24 BAM 12.17

$10.32 MX$178

-29.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.71 MX$29.61

-29.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$2.58 MX$44.54

-55.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$0.51 MX$8.81

262.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.43 BAM 59.5

$26.46 MX$458

33.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 BAM 2.95

$3.26 MX$56.4

-46.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 BAM 1.95

$2.49 MX$43.09

-53.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.81 BAM 18.16

$3.25 MX$56.2

232.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.51

$1.31 MX$22.61

13.74%

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

$23.9K BAM 40.2K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-20.92%

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

$25.8K BAM 43.4K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

10.26%

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

$123 BAM 206

$82.9 MX$1,433

48.27%

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

$18.70 BAM 31.42

$22.22 MX$384

-15.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 BAM 48.36

$29.34 MX$507

-1.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.57 BAM 49.69

$51.6 MX$893

-42.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.82 BAM 18.18

$18.32 MX$317

-40.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 BAM 7.73

$5.07 MX$87.6

-9.27%

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

$152 BAM 256

$201 MX$3,473

-24.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,316 BAM 5,571

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-36.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 BAM 118

$36.92 MX$639

90.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.67 BAM 59.9

$39.79 MX$688

-10.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 BAM 168

$78.5 MX$1,357

27.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BAM 200

$87.1 MX$1,506

36.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 BAM 432

$973 MX$16.8K

-73.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 BAM 285

$468 MX$8,090

-63.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 622

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-77.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 BAM 527

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-74.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,591 BAM 4,354

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-34.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,813 BAM 3,046

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-72.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 BAM 1,297

$664 MX$11.5K

16.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

11.42

-63.75%

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

Last update for Maglaj: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Maglaj 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 16% higher in Maglaj, 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 $35.00 in Maglaj versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $249 – making Maglaj 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $918 in Maglaj, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 41% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Maglaj and $1,945 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 Maglaj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Maglaj and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Maglaj 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 $918 in Maglaj to $1,297 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 Maglaj. 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.