Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Abakan Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Abakan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $884 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,373 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,862 in Abakan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 43% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Abakan 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$11.07 ₽935
4.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$32.54 ₽2,749
44.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$6.24 ₽527
90.38%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$3.04 ₽257
30.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$1.14 ₽95.9
25.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$0.59 ₽50.2
38.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$1.74 ₽147
83.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.81 ₽237
141.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.10 ₽93.3
52.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$0.71 ₽59.9
209.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$1.39 ₽118
23.02%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$1.45 ₽123
88.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$11.20 ₽946
-14.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$5.81 ₽491
55.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$11.26 ₽952
13.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$1.75 ₽148
65.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.80 ₽152
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$1.78 ₽151
20.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$3.65 ₽309
-38.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$0.74 ₽62.5
167.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$0.55 ₽46.30
261.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$1.38 ₽116
-10.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.77 ₽65.1
55.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$2.95 ₽249
54.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$7.18 ₽607
44.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.05 ₽88.7
54.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$2.02 ₽170
42.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$0.43 ₽36.09
39.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$2.27 ₽192
137.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.33 ₽27.59
1030.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$6.06 ₽512
-4.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$0.79 ₽66.4
94.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$39.4K ₽3.3M
-42.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$31.3K ₽2.6M
-16.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$78.1 ₽6,595
17.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$9.74 ₽823
158.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$8.73 ₽738
257.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$35.13 ₽2,968
91.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$21.52 ₽1,818
35.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$6.00 ₽507
-19.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$330 ₽27.9K
-32.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$7,255 ₽613.0K
-41.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$42.23 ₽3,568
11.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$50.1 ₽4,229
-11.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$106 ₽8,952
-24.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$78.1 ₽6,597
18.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$341 ₽28.8K
211.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$239 ₽20.2K
63.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$527 ₽44.6K
307.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$352 ₽29.8K
261.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$2,655 ₽224.3K
50.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$1,730 ₽146.2K
275.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$585 ₽49.5K
29.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
21
-45.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Abakan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $341 in Abakan. 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 30% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $213 – making Abakan 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
Playa del Carmen vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abakan cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 43%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,326 in Abakan. 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 Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $884 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $330 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Abakan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $884, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Abakan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – 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 Abakan. 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.

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