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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,001 per month in Mostar vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,475 per month in Mostar vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,949 per month in Mostar vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mostar is about 23% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mostar and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mostar 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 BAM 11.88

$11.73 MX$203

-39.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 60.4

$41.62 MX$720

-13.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 BAM 9.16

$10.64 MX$184

-48.78%

Cappuccino

$1.59 BAM 2.68

$3.52 MX$60.9

-54.83%

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

$1.87 BAM 3.14

$1.51 MX$26.12

23.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BAM 1.95

$0.97 MX$16.84

19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 BAM 3.53

$2.95 MX$51.0

-28.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 BAM 3.56

$4.45 MX$77.0

-52.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 BAM 2.28

$1.38 MX$23.93

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BAM 2.16

$1.89 MX$32.72

-32.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.73

$1.64 MX$28.32

-0.61%

Eggs

$2.79 BAM 4.68

$2.51 MX$43.34

11.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 BAM 15.57

$8.34 MX$144

11.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 BAM 12.64

$8.34 MX$144

-9.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 BAM 20.05

$10.73 MX$186

11.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 BAM 2.15

$2.60 MX$45.04

-50.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 BAM 2.78

$1.46 MX$25.20

13.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.12

$1.90 MX$32.87

-2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.90

$2.08 MX$35.91

-16.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$1.78 MX$30.71

-56.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 BAM 1.25

$2.19 MX$37.80

-66.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 BAM 1.65

$1.04 MX$17.99

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 BAM 1.23

$1.08 MX$18.62

-32.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 BAM 6.07

$4.08 MX$70.6

-11.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.12 BAM 6.93

$10.32 MX$178

-60.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BAM 1.18

$1.71 MX$29.61

-59.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 BAM 1.90

$2.58 MX$44.54

-56.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$0.51 MX$8.81

125.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.06 BAM 57.2

$26.46 MX$458

28.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.43

$3.26 MX$56.4

-55.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$2.49 MX$43.09

-63.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 BAM 15.23

$3.25 MX$56.2

179.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.31 MX$22.61

9.16%

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

$23.4K BAM 39.3K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-22.82%

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

$26.1K BAM 43.9K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

11.42%

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

$125 BAM 210

$82.9 MX$1,433

51.01%

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

$18.89 BAM 31.74

$22.22 MX$384

-14.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 BAM 39.97

$29.34 MX$507

-18.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.88 BAM 58.6

$51.6 MX$893

-32.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 BAM 20.11

$18.32 MX$317

-34.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 BAM 8.10

$5.07 MX$87.6

-4.93%

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

$152 BAM 256

$201 MX$3,473

-24.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,216 BAM 5,403

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-38.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 BAM 126

$36.92 MX$639

102.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 BAM 58.1

$39.79 MX$688

-13.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 BAM 153

$78.5 MX$1,357

15.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 BAM 196

$87.1 MX$1,506

34.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 BAM 443

$973 MX$16.8K

-72.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 BAM 454

$468 MX$8,090

-42.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 BAM 744

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-73.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 BAM 523

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-74.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 BAM 4,019

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-39.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,624 BAM 2,728

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-75.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$890 BAM 1,496

$664 MX$11.5K

34.11%

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 Mostar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Mostar 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 34% higher in Mostar, 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 $36.00 in Mostar versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $249 – making Mostar 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,001 in Mostar, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 30% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,502 per month in Mostar 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 Mostar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $152 per month in Mostar and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostar, where all-in costs run around $1,001, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Mostar 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 $1,001 in Mostar 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 Mostar. 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.