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 $951 per month in Mostar vs $1,239 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,429 per month in Mostar vs $2,168 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Mostar vs $3,096 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 30% lower, Playa del Carmen 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.03 BAM 12.20

$11.17 MX$203

-37.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.00 BAM 50.4

$44.61 MX$810

-34.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 BAM 10.19

$11.91 MX$216

-50.71%

Cappuccino

$1.73 BAM 3.00

$3.81 MX$69.3

-54.59%

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

$1.84 BAM 3.19

$1.38 MX$24.97

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 BAM 2.18

$0.80 MX$14.46

57.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 BAM 4.16

$3.12 MX$56.6

-23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 BAM 3.85

$4.97 MX$90.2

-55.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 BAM 1.99

$1.51 MX$27.42

-23.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 BAM 1.70

$2.25 MX$40.77

-56.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 BAM 3.51

$1.51 MX$27.35

33.77%

Eggs

$2.70 BAM 4.68

$2.46 MX$44.73

9.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.03 BAM 13.94

$7.50 MX$136

7.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 BAM 12.70

$8.07 MX$146

-9.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 BAM 18.54

$13.08 MX$238

-18.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 BAM 1.92

$2.83 MX$51.5

-60.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 BAM 2.81

$1.47 MX$26.78

10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 BAM 2.38

$2.69 MX$48.90

-49.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.13

$2.08 MX$37.75

-40.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 BAM 1.46

$1.96 MX$35.52

-57.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 BAM 1.17

$2.01 MX$36.51

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 BAM 1.38

$1.21 MX$21.97

-34.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 BAM 1.17

$1.23 MX$22.34

-45.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 BAM 6.98

$4.46 MX$81.0

-9.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.03 BAM 6.99

$9.98 MX$181

-59.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BAM 1.28

$1.63 MX$29.62

-54.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.56

$2.80 MX$50.8

-67.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 BAM 2.05

$0.58 MX$10.50

103.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.39 BAM 58.0

$28.28 MX$514

18.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 BAM 3.04

$4.85 MX$88.1

-63.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 BAM 1.04

$3.50 MX$63.5

-82.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.36 BAM 18.00

$5.65 MX$103

83.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.48

$1.46 MX$26.43

-2.05%

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

$30.8K BAM 53.5K

$21.4K MX$388.4K

44.04%

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

$22.2K BAM 38.5K

$24.0K MX$435.6K

-7.56%

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

$123 BAM 213

$86.3 MX$1,568

42.16%

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

$17.95 BAM 31.16

$23.96 MX$435

-25.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.22 BAM 45.54

$28.93 MX$525

-9.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.80 BAM 62.2

$64.6 MX$1,174

-44.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.66 BAM 20.25

$29.07 MX$528

-59.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 BAM 9.64

$5.13 MX$93.1

8.19%

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

$148 BAM 257

$211 MX$3,838

-30.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K BAM 23.7K

$4,045 MX$73.4K

237.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 BAM 103

$44.23 MX$803

33.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.87 BAM 58.8

$43.35 MX$787

-21.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 BAM 150

$76.9 MX$1,396

12.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 BAM 144

$88.4 MX$1,605

-6.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 BAM 745

$996 MX$18.1K

-56.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 BAM 449

$379 MX$6,874

-31.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$671 BAM 1,165

$1,767 MX$32.1K

-62.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 BAM 801

$1,127 MX$20.5K

-59.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,370 BAM 4,116

$4,010 MX$72.8K

-40.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 BAM 2,760

$6,392 MX$116.1K

-75.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$854 BAM 1,483

$768 MX$14.0K

11.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.3

11.45

-62.45%

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

Last update for Mostar: September 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Mostar versus $996 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 11% 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 $29.00 in Mostar versus $45.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $263 – 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: $951 in Mostar, $1,239 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 $1,426 per month in Mostar and $1,859 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 $148 per month in Mostar and $211 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 40% 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 $951, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,239. 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 $951 in Mostar to $1,239 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.