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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $964 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,453 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,941 in Abakan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 34% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Abakan 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$9.33 ₽681
25.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$19.48 ₽1,422
113.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$6.38 ₽465
66.77%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.88 ₽210
22.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$1.25 ₽90.9
20.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.38 ₽27.80
155.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.22 ₽89.2
141.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$1.30 ₽95.2
242.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.23 ₽89.5
12.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.71 ₽51.6
166.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.38 ₽101
18.84%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$1.88 ₽137
33.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$10.91 ₽796
-23.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$4.84 ₽353
72.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$8.91 ₽651
20.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$1.82 ₽133
42.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$2.18 ₽159
-33.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$1.91 ₽139
-0.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$2.75 ₽201
-24.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$1.15 ₽83.7
54.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$0.71 ₽52.0
208.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.34 ₽97.8
-22.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.67 ₽48.87
61.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$2.91 ₽213
40.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$8.04 ₽587
28.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.03 ₽74.9
66.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$1.88 ₽137
37.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.37 ₽27.24
37.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$1.25 ₽91.2
160.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.35 ₽25.71
611.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$6.51 ₽475
-50.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$0.73 ₽53.2
79.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$33.9K ₽2.5M
-10.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$35.3K ₽2.6M
-33.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$110 ₽8,031
-24.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$6.03 ₽440
268.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$7.88 ₽575
272.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$35.86 ₽2,618
43.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$4.98 ₽364
1.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$330 ₽24.1K
-39.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$7,013 ₽511.9K
-25.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$50.0 ₽3,649
-26.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$49.74 ₽3,630
-20.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$100 ₽7,322
-21.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$103 ₽7,500
-15.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$449 ₽32.8K
116.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$308 ₽22.5K
51.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$756 ₽55.1K
117.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$503 ₽36.7K
142.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$2,526 ₽184.4K
56.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$1,676 ₽122.3K
287.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$669 ₽48.8K
-0.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
15.33
-25.51%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Abakan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $449 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 1% higher in Abakan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $203 – 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 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,446 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 vs Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $964 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 $201 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 Playa del Carmen or Abakan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities