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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $998 per month in Murmansk vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,523 per month in Murmansk vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Murmansk vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Murmansk is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Murmansk and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Murmansk 26% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.47 ₽681

$11.87 MX$207

-20.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.66 ₽2,779

$42.90 MX$749

-9.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 ₽391

$10.65 MX$186

-48.92%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₽138

$3.45 MX$60.2

-44.35%

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

$0.86 ₽62.0

$1.50 MX$26.24

-42.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽47.23

$0.95 MX$16.56

-30.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₽101

$3.03 MX$52.8

-53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₽182

$4.61 MX$80.4

-45.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₽87.9

$1.38 MX$24.01

-11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 ₽54.3

$1.85 MX$32.24

-58.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₽106

$1.61 MX$28.11

-8.07%

Eggs

$2.23 ₽160

$2.59 MX$45.26

-13.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 ₽774

$8.26 MX$144

30.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 ₽341

$8.37 MX$146

-43.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.67 ₽624

$10.66 MX$186

-18.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.63 MX$45.89

-26.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₽133

$1.49 MX$25.96

24.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₽166

$1.92 MX$33.50

19.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 ₽375

$2.09 MX$36.41

149.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽71.2

$1.86 MX$32.42

-46.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽47.93

$2.26 MX$39.47

-70.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₽97.5

$1.06 MX$18.54

28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₽99.2

$1.09 MX$18.98

26.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 ₽253

$4.15 MX$72.4

-15.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽72.2

$1.72 MX$30.09

-41.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.61 MX$45.60

-26.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₽46.14

$0.54 MX$9.46

18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.84 ₽1,211

$26.94 MX$470

-37.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ₽147

$3.13 MX$54.6

-34.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 ₽149

$2.51 MX$43.82

-17.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 ₽320

$3.15 MX$55.0

41.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽56.8

$1.27 MX$22.25

-37.80%

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

$34.4K ₽2.5M

$30.4K MX$530.1K

13.22%

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

$35.4K ₽2.5M

$23.6K MX$411.3K

50.11%

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

$108 ₽7,765

$83.0 MX$1,449

30.12%

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

$5.80 ₽417

$22.71 MX$396

-74.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.60 ₽834

$29.46 MX$514

-60.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.21 ₽2,532

$51.0 MX$890

-30.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$320

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 ₽294

$4.93 MX$86.0

-17.24%

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

$327 ₽23.5K

$197 MX$3,444

65.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,870 ₽493.9K

$5,280 MX$92.1K

30.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 ₽3,825

$36.90 MX$644

44.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.01 ₽3,236

$39.89 MX$696

12.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₽8,256

$80.0 MX$1,396

43.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₽7,562

$89.5 MX$1,561

17.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₽32.3K

$956 MX$16.7K

-52.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₽22.6K

$477 MX$8,327

-34.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₽45.3K

$1,646 MX$28.7K

-61.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₽32.4K

$1,225 MX$21.4K

-63.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,137 ₽81.8K

$667 MX$11.6K

70.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.17

11.42

50.35%

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

Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Murmansk versus $956 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 71% higher in Murmansk, 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 $39.00 in Murmansk versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $250 – making Murmansk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $998 in Murmansk, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 27% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,497 per month in Murmansk and $1,906 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 Murmansk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $998 in Murmansk and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 60% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Murmansk 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 $998 in Murmansk to $1,271 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 Murmansk. 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.