Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Abaza

For one person, living is cheaper in Abaza: $1,110 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Abaza, Russia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Abaza
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,110
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Abaza

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Abaza actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,202 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,110 in Abaza.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Abaza $1,110

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,764 in Abaza.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Abaza $1,764

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,962 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,419 in Abaza.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Abaza $2,419

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 8% more expensive than in Abaza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Abaza 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$200
$12.14 ₽990
-12.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$823
$45.54 ₽3,714
-3.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$221
$5.94 ₽485
98.48%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$71.1
$2.67 ₽217
41.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.36
$1.13 ₽92.4
15.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.65
$0.68 ₽55.3
22.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$59.1
$1.70 ₽139
85.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$3.26 ₽266
51.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.46
$1.35 ₽110
4.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.23
$0.81 ₽65.8
171.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.66
$1.60 ₽131
-8.13%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.89
$1.77 ₽144
41.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$137
$13.22 ₽1,079
-44.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$149
$4.98 ₽406
59.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$242
$12.27 ₽1,001
4.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.4
$1.97 ₽161
47.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.98
$1.72 ₽141
-19.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.78
$1.98 ₽161
25.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.12
$3.39 ₽276
-40.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$38.03
$0.86 ₽70.4
134.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.74
$0.68 ₽55.6
179.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.49
$1.18 ₽96.0
-3.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.27
$0.80 ₽65.5
55.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$80.2
$3.10 ₽253
37.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$184
$8.51 ₽694
15.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.78
$1.21 ₽98.5
31.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.6
$2.39 ₽195
15.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.67
$0.60 ₽48.63
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$514
$29.29 ₽2,389
-6.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.4
$2.44 ₽199
95.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$61.0
$0.39 ₽31.81
733.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
$5.75 ₽469
-6.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.70
$0.91 ₽74.4
68.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$398.4K
$57.3K ₽4.7M
-62.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$436.9K
$42.8K ₽3.5M
-45.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,568
$149 ₽12.2K
-44.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$435
$7.17 ₽585
223.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$519
$8.30 ₽677
232.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,060
$38.74 ₽3,160
45.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$529
$22.92 ₽1,869
22.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.9
$7.34 ₽599
-31.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,889
$305 ₽24.9K
-32.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$98.2K
$6,310 ₽514.7K
-17.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$816
$99.8 ₽8,136
-56.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$799
$60.4 ₽4,922
-29.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,367
$123 ₽10.0K
-40.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,660
$103 ₽8,408
-14.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.7K
$565 ₽46.1K
76.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,181
$285 ₽23.3K
33.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.4K
$913 ₽74.5K
83.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.3K
$553 ₽45.1K
95.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.4K
$2,104 ₽171.6K
85.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$115.3K
$1,671 ₽136.3K
267.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Abaza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
21.33
-46.32%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Abaza: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Abaza
$285 25.4% $97
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Abaza
$228 11.6% $30
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Abaza
$169 15.5% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Abaza
$165 22.7% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Abaza
$174 56.3% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Abaza
$53 19.6% $13
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Abaza
$36 28.5% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Playa del Carmen and $565 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44 in Playa del Carmen vs $46 in Abaza. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $228, with Abaza cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇷🇺 Abaza
🕒 Local time
23:40 11:40 PM
11:40 11:40 AM
12 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
14,816
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.08 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 81.56 RUB (100 RUB = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 91.56 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Abaza 11,860 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Abaza

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Abaza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abaza cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Abaza is about 8% cheaper overall, especially in utilities, eating out, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,804 in Playa del Carmen and $1,665 in Abaza to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Abaza?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $565 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Abaza?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Abaza?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $44 versus $46 in Abaza. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 enough for either Playa del Carmen or Abaza?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Abaza gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Abaza?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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