🙂A single person spends $726 per month in Mykolaiv vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,109 per month in Mykolaiv vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,491 per month in Mykolaiv vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Mykolaiv is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mykolaiv and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mykolaiv46% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.59₴428
$11.99MX$210
-20.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.99₴1,071
$41.78MX$733
-42.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.53₴336
$10.75MX$189
-29.95%
Cappuccino
$1.12₴49.98
$3.50MX$61.3
-68.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₴21.28
$1.45MX$25.41
-66.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₴19.85
$0.88MX$15.52
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.88₴39.29
$2.95MX$51.7
-70.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62₴72.4
$4.51MX$79.1
-64.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26₴56.1
$1.43MX$25.12
-11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61₴27.09
$1.84MX$32.23
-66.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57₴69.9
$1.57MX$27.51
-
Eggs
$1.61₴72.0
$2.51MX$44.06
-35.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.98₴445
$8.28MX$145
20.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73₴211
$8.43MX$148
-43.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.51₴335
$10.68MX$187
-29.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04₴46.27
$2.61MX$45.76
-60.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₴65.2
$1.44MX$25.22
1.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38₴61.7
$1.96MX$34.41
-29.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12₴94.7
$2.09MX$36.74
1.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82₴36.57
$1.85MX$32.47
-55.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48₴21.58
$2.17MX$38.02
-77.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99₴44.32
$1.03MX$18.09
-3.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51₴22.77
$1.07MX$18.84
-52.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18₴97.1
$4.10MX$72.0
-46.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.78₴169
$10.17MX$178
-62.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₴31.02
$1.68MX$29.38
-58.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11₴49.61
$2.53MX$44.31
-56.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₴16.76
$0.51MX$8.93
-25.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.59₴428
$26.04MX$457
-63.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24₴55.5
$3.23MX$56.7
-61.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46₴20.46
$2.41MX$42.19
-80.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.46₴110
$3.23MX$56.6
-23.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40₴62.3
$1.32MX$23.17
6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K₴1.4M
$29.7KMX$520.9K
2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K₴748.5K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144₴6,428
$82.0MX$1,439
75.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.34₴238
$22.95MX$403
-76.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.52₴246
$30.11MX$528
-81.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.70₴1,370
$52.0MX$912
-40.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.23₴367
$18.53MX$325
-55.59%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67₴164
$4.98MX$87.3
-26.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.7₴3,290
$197MX$3,463
-62.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,472₴154.9K
$5,336MX$93.6K
-34.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.99₴2,141
$35.60MX$624
34.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.76₴659
$40.33MX$707
-63.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.3₴2,867
$78.8MX$1,381
-18.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119₴5,319
$88.9MX$1,560
34.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199₴8,870
$947MX$16.6K
-79.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113₴5,048
$474MX$8,314
-76.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314₴14.0K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-80.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228₴10.2K
$1,211MX$21.2K
-81.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$715₴31.9K
$4,056MX$71.1K
-82.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$491₴21.9K
$6,470MX$113.5K
-92.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mykolaiv
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$413₴18.4K
$654MX$11.5K
-36.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
11.42
118.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mykolaiv: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Mykolaiv versus $947 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 58% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Mykolaiv versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 vs $249 – making Mykolaiv 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
Mykolaiv vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Mykolaiv?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in Mykolaiv and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mykolaiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mykolaiv or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Mykolaiv and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mykolaiv and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $726 in Mykolaiv and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mykolaiv or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mykolaiv, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Mykolaiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mykolaiv or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mykolaiv – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mykolaiv. 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.