😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,876 in Pacov versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,743 in Pacov versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,610 in Pacov versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Pacov is roughly 45% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pacov is 37% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.48Kč 197
$11.71MX$198
-19.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.52Kč 946
$46.59MX$788
-2.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.96Kč 269
$11.65MX$197
11.24%
Cappuccino
$3.10Kč 64.4
$4.09MX$69.2
-24.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Kč 60.4
$1.37MX$23.23
111.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39Kč 28.80
$0.83MX$14.09
67.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.43Kč 29.65
$3.35MX$56.7
-57.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55Kč 115
$6.91MX$117
-19.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Kč 35.50
$1.73MX$29.20
-1.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45Kč 30.08
$2.26MX$38.21
-35.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18Kč 66.0
$1.77MX$29.91
79.66%
Eggs
$5.79Kč 120
$2.73MX$46.19
112.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.43Kč 258
$9.18MX$155
35.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.66Kč 201
$8.92MX$151
8.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.68Kč 471
$12.60MX$213
80.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.47Kč 30.58
$3.02MX$51.1
-51.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80Kč 58.3
$1.57MX$26.55
78.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.02Kč 83.6
$2.13MX$35.93
88.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.49Kč 72.5
$2.26MX$38.28
54.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Kč 22.50
$2.00MX$33.88
-46.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22Kč 46.08
$2.06MX$34.90
7.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35Kč 28.05
$1.18MX$19.94
14.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80Kč 16.59
$1.20MX$20.35
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76Kč 78.2
$4.63MX$78.4
-18.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.23Kč 150
$10.69MX$181
-32.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82Kč 17.07
$1.62MX$27.38
-49.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80Kč 37.46
$2.88MX$48.70
-37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22Kč 25.33
$0.57MX$9.69
114.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.84Kč 537
$29.83MX$504
-13.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47Kč 51.4
$5.45MX$92.1
-54.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94Kč 19.51
$3.70MX$62.6
-74.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.84Kč 600
$5.98MX$101
382.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87Kč 38.85
$1.55MX$26.26
20.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KKč 670.9K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
44.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KKč 656.7K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
21.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$297Kč 6,165
$89.1MX$1,507
232.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.56Kč 490
$25.04MX$423
-5.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.65Kč 409
$31.50MX$532
-37.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$103Kč 2,140
$67.8MX$1,146
51.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.06Kč 375
$28.92MX$489
-37.55%
Cinema Ticket
$14.22Kč 295
$5.05MX$85.4
181.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$450Kč 9,344
$225MX$3,803
99.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KKč 227.0K
$4,222MX$71.4K
158.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$121Kč 2,507
$47.44MX$802
154.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.2Kč 1,605
$44.98MX$760
71.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$178Kč 3,695
$82.0MX$1,386
116.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128Kč 2,662
$92.1MX$1,557
39.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$741Kč 15.4K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-30.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624Kč 13.0K
$405MX$6,852
54.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,237Kč 25.7K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-36.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$971Kč 20.2K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-25.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,808Kč 99.9K
$3,995MX$67.5K
20.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,729Kč 98.3K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-28.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pacov
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,197Kč 24.9K
$749MX$12.7K
59.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.85
11.45
-31.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pacov: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Pacov and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pacov pays 60% 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: $46.00 in Pacov vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $324 vs $277, with Playa del Carmen 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
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 45% 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 60% 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: $741 in Pacov versus $1,069 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 15% 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 $450 in Pacov versus $225 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,876 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 $1,293 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 45% less than in Pacov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.