😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,727 in Pacov versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Pacov versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,214 in Pacov versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Pacov is roughly 37% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pacov is 29% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.11Kč 193
$11.99MX$209
-24.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.14Kč 956
$41.78MX$728
8.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.57Kč 266
$10.75MX$187
16.93%
Cappuccino
$2.91Kč 61.6
$3.50MX$60.9
-16.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Kč 60.8
$1.45MX$25.22
97.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44Kč 30.51
$0.88MX$15.41
63.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37Kč 28.98
$2.95MX$51.3
-53.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12Kč 108
$4.51MX$78.6
13.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60Kč 33.97
$1.43MX$24.94
11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43Kč 30.24
$1.84MX$31.99
-22.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21Kč 67.9
$1.57MX$27.31
104.46%
Eggs
$5.51Kč 117
$2.51MX$43.74
119.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.47Kč 264
$8.28MX$144
50.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.28Kč 197
$8.43MX$147
10.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.76Kč 461
$10.68MX$186
103.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42Kč 30.07
$2.61MX$45.43
-45.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74Kč 58.1
$1.44MX$25.04
90.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83Kč 81.3
$1.96MX$34.16
95.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52Kč 74.7
$2.09MX$36.47
68.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.70
$1.85MX$32.24
-29.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12Kč 44.82
$2.17MX$37.74
-2.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26Kč 26.69
$1.03MX$17.96
22.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75Kč 15.94
$1.07MX$18.70
-29.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82Kč 80.9
$4.10MX$71.4
-6.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13Kč 151
$10.17MX$177
-29.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 17.10
$1.68MX$29.17
-51.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95Kč 41.25
$2.53MX$43.98
-22.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18Kč 25.02
$0.51MX$8.87
131.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.00Kč 551
$26.04MX$453
-0.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38Kč 50.4
$3.23MX$56.3
-26.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80Kč 16.97
$2.41MX$41.88
-66.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.57Kč 584
$3.23MX$56.2
753.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75Kč 37.17
$1.32MX$23.00
32.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KKč 604.9K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-3.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KKč 635.4K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
26.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$295Kč 6,246
$82.0MX$1,428
259.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92Kč 570
$22.95MX$400
17.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.08Kč 447
$30.11MX$524
-29.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.0Kč 2,076
$52.0MX$905
88.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66Kč 353
$18.53MX$323
-10.09%
Cinema Ticket
$13.68Kč 290
$4.98MX$86.6
174.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$418Kč 8,849
$197MX$3,438
111.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KKč 215.7K
$5,336MX$92.9K
90.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117Kč 2,486
$35.60MX$620
229.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.23Kč 789
$40.33MX$702
-7.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2Kč 2,017
$78.8MX$1,371
20.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,399
$88.9MX$1,549
27.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$690Kč 14.6K
$947MX$16.5K
-27.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551Kč 11.7K
$474MX$8,254
16.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180Kč 25.0K
$1,644MX$28.6K
-28.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859Kč 18.2K
$1,211MX$21.1K
-29.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,808Kč 101.9K
$4,056MX$70.6K
18.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,723Kč 100.1K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-27.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,163Kč 24.6K
$654MX$11.4K
77.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.85
11.42
-31.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pacov: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $690 in Pacov and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pacov pays 78% 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: $45.00 in Pacov vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Pacov vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pacov or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Pacov. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Pacov or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 78% higher in Pacov, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Pacov compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $690 in Pacov versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Pacov compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 0% less than in Pacov. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Pacov and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $418 in Pacov versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Pacov or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,727 in Pacov, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Pacov. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pacov or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Pacov compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Pacov 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Pacov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.