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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $925 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,391 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,856 in Bečej.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 40% more expensive than Bečej, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Bečej 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$205
$6.71 RSD 676
74.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$727
$34.68 RSD 3,493
20.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$186
$9.96 RSD 1,004
6.83%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.5
$1.19 RSD 120
195.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.37
$1.51 RSD 152
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$17.00
$0.76 RSD 76.7
27.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$1.49 RSD 150
97.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.8
$2.00 RSD 202
122.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$24.16
$1.04 RSD 105
32.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$33.04
$0.89 RSD 89.2
112.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.59
$1.51 RSD 152
8.61%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.76
$2.07 RSD 208
21.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$146
$9.33 RSD 940
-10.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$146
$7.09 RSD 714
17.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$187
$7.51 RSD 757
42.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.48
$0.94 RSD 95.0
176.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.45
$1.97 RSD 198
-25.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$33.19
$1.60 RSD 162
18.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.26
$1.94 RSD 196
7.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.01
$0.70 RSD 70.8
154.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.16
$0.36 RSD 36.31
508.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.16
$0.66 RSD 66.1
57.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.80
$0.61 RSD 61.0
77.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$71.3
$3.85 RSD 388
5.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$180
$3.97 RSD 400
159.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.90
$0.68 RSD 68.4
151.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.98
$0.94 RSD 95.0
174.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.90
$0.90 RSD 91.0
-43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$462
$27.38 RSD 2,758
-3.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$57.0
$1.94 RSD 195
68.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.51
$0.73 RSD 73.8
241.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.7
$9.89 RSD 996
-67.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.83
$1.83 RSD 184
-28.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$528.8K
$30.7K RSD 3.1M
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$409.2K
$27.0K RSD 2.7M
-13.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,447
$64.4 RSD 6,487
28.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$388
$10.11 RSD 1,019
119.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$512
$23.87 RSD 2,405
22.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$902
$30.05 RSD 3,027
71.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$320
$16.46 RSD 1,658
11.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$88.5
$8.02 RSD 808
-36.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,507
$457 RSD 46.0K
-56.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$91.0K
$5,163 RSD 520.2K
0.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$645
$102 RSD 10.3K
-63.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$695
$42.21 RSD 4,252
-5.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,370
$65.0 RSD 6,546
20.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,521
$118 RSD 11.9K
-25.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$17.0K
$377 RSD 38.0K
158.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,169
$292 RSD 29.5K
59.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.7K
$566 RSD 57.0K
190.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.3K
$412 RSD 41.5K
196.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.9K
$1,901 RSD 191.5K
107.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$113.5K
$1,376 RSD 138.7K
372.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.6K
$539 RSD 54.3K
23.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.59
104.29%

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 Bečej: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $377 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 23% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $35.00 in Bečej for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $178 per month, with Bečej 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
Playa del Carmen vs Bečej: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bečej cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Bečej is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Bečej?
Playa del Carmen pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Bečej?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $377 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Bečej?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $925 in Bečej – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Bečej runs roughly 3% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Bečej?
At $925 in Bečej versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bečej but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bečej the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Bečej more family-friendly?
For families, Bečej is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Bečej?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Bečej 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bečej gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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