🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $943 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,476 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,008 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Oktyabr'skiy costs roughly 27% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Oktyabr'skiy31% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.39₽635
$11.71MX$198
-36.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.54₽3,050
$46.59MX$787
-23.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.32₽457
$11.65MX$197
-54.33%
Cappuccino
$2.14₽183
$4.09MX$69.2
-47.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95₽81.6
$1.37MX$23.23
-30.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₽45.33
$0.83MX$14.09
-36.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.00₽85.5
$3.35MX$56.7
-70.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95₽167
$6.91MX$117
-71.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13₽96.7
$1.73MX$29.19
-34.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88₽75.5
$2.26MX$38.20
-61.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29₽111
$1.77MX$29.90
-27.12%
Eggs
$1.54₽132
$2.73MX$46.18
-43.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.90₽935
$9.18MX$155
18.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15₽442
$8.92MX$151
-42.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55₽648
$12.60MX$213
-40.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69₽145
$3.02MX$51.1
-44.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85₽159
$1.57MX$26.54
17.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55₽133
$2.13MX$35.92
-27.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80₽240
$2.26MX$38.27
23.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90₽77.2
$2.00MX$33.87
-55.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46₽39.75
$2.06MX$34.89
-77.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09₽93.7
$1.18MX$19.94
-7.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51₽43.45
$1.20MX$20.35
-57.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69₽231
$4.63MX$78.3
-41.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.19₽359
$10.69MX$181
-60.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80₽68.6
$1.62MX$27.37
-50.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33₽114
$2.88MX$48.69
-53.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51₽43.34
$0.57MX$9.69
-10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.79₽1,870
$29.83MX$504
-26.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64₽313
$5.45MX$92.1
-33.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₽29.86
$3.70MX$62.6
-90.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.57₽306
$5.98MX$101
-40.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84₽72.3
$1.55MX$26.25
-45.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K₽2.3M
$22.3KMX$377.3K
19.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K₽3.2M
$25.9KMX$438.5K
42.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117₽10.0K
$89.1MX$1,506
30.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.68₽488
$25.04MX$423
-77.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.54₽905
$31.50MX$532
-66.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.68₽2,977
$67.8MX$1,145
-48.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.25₽451
$5.05MX$85.3
3.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307₽26.3K
$225MX$3,802
36.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,781₽581.9K
$4,222MX$71.4K
60.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.6₽6,398
$47.44MX$802
57.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.91₽3,940
$44.98MX$760
2.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107₽9,168
$82.0MX$1,386
30.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1₽7,214
$92.1MX$1,556
-8.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442₽37.9K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-58.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312₽26.8K
$405MX$6,850
-22.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757₽65.0K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-60.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543₽46.6K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-58.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,117₽181.6K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-47.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,431₽122.8K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-78.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oktyabr'skiy
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.03
11.45
118.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oktyabr'skiy: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Oktyabr'skiy and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Oktyabr'skiy vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $277 per month, with Oktyabr'skiy cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Oktyabr'skiy vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Oktyabr'skiy?
Oktyabr'skiy is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,415 in Oktyabr'skiy and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Oktyabr'skiy and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Oktyabr'skiy and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $943 per month in Oktyabr'skiy versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Oktyabr'skiy runs roughly 37% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Oktyabr'skiy or in Playa del Carmen?
At $943 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Oktyabr'skiy but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Oktyabr'skiy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Oktyabr'skiy or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Oktyabr'skiy is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Oktyabr'skiy or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Oktyabr'skiy and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Oktyabr'skiy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Oktyabr'skiy vs other spots: cost of living compared