😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,318 in Osijek versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,059 in Osijek versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,801 in Osijek versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Osijek is roughly 5% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Osijek1% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.50€10.07
$11.99MX$209
-4.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4€51.1
$41.78MX$728
39.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04€7.92
$10.75MX$187
-15.91%
Cappuccino
$2.24€1.96
$3.50MX$60.9
-36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03€2.65
$1.45MX$25.22
108.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.88
$0.88MX$15.41
144.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94€2.58
$2.95MX$51.3
-0.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42€3.00
$4.51MX$78.6
-24.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$1.43MX$24.94
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21€1.06
$1.84MX$31.99
-34.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68€2.35
$1.57MX$27.31
70.70%
Eggs
$3.10€2.72
$2.51MX$43.74
23.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.84€9.49
$8.28MX$144
30.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.39€6.47
$8.43MX$147
-12.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.13€9.74
$10.68MX$186
4.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39€1.22
$2.61MX$45.43
-46.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59€1.40
$1.44MX$25.04
10.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62€1.42
$1.96MX$34.16
-17.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44€2.13
$2.09MX$36.47
16.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97€0.85
$1.85MX$32.24
-47.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19€1.04
$2.17MX$37.74
-45.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18€1.03
$1.03MX$17.96
14.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.84
$1.07MX$18.70
-10.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47€4.79
$4.10MX$71.4
33.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11€7.10
$10.17MX$177
-20.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.26
$1.68MX$29.17
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.71
$2.53MX$43.98
-22.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.51
$0.51MX$8.87
237.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.22€36.97
$26.04MX$453
62.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26€1.98
$3.23MX$56.3
-30.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.93
$2.41MX$41.88
-56.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.74€5.03
$3.23MX$56.2
77.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.57
$1.32MX$23.00
35.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.7K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
18.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€23.2K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
11.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191€167
$82.0MX$1,428
132.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.21€17.70
$22.95MX$400
-11.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.52€27.61
$30.11MX$524
4.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.13€31.64
$52.0MX$905
-30.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.10€10.60
$18.53MX$323
-34.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.64€6.69
$4.98MX$86.6
53.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354€310
$197MX$3,438
79.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,807€2,458
$5,336MX$92.9K
-47.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€88.1
$35.60MX$620
182.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.68€34.75
$40.33MX$702
-1.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0€84.1
$78.8MX$1,371
21.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€101
$88.9MX$1,549
29.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$536€469
$947MX$16.5K
-43.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394€345
$474MX$8,254
-16.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$958€839
$1,644MX$28.6K
-41.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712€624
$1,211MX$21.1K
-41.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,718€2,380
$4,056MX$70.6K
-33.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,186€1,914
$6,470MX$112.7K
-66.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osijek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,394€1,221
$654MX$11.4K
113.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
11.42
-67.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osijek: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $536 in Osijek and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Osijek pays 113% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Osijek vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $249, with Osijek cheaper for home cooking.
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
Osijek vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Osijek?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Osijek or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 113% higher in Osijek, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Osijek and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $536 in Osijek versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Osijek and in Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Osijek pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Osijek or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $58.0 in Osijek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Osijek or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,318 in Osijek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Osijek. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Osijek or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Osijek, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Osijek or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Osijek 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Osijek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.