😐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 Carmen3% lower, Bečej31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$6.71RSD 676
74.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$34.68RSD 3,493
20.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$9.96RSD 1,004
6.83%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$1.19RSD 120
195.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$1.51RSD 152
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$0.76RSD 76.7
27.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$1.49RSD 150
97.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$2.00RSD 202
122.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$1.04RSD 105
32.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$0.89RSD 89.2
112.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$1.51RSD 152
8.61%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$2.07RSD 208
21.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$9.33RSD 940
-10.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$7.09RSD 714
17.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$7.51RSD 757
42.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$0.94RSD 95.0
176.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$1.97RSD 198
-25.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$1.60RSD 162
18.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$1.94RSD 196
7.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$0.70RSD 70.8
154.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$0.36RSD 36.31
508.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$0.66RSD 66.1
57.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$0.61RSD 61.0
77.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$3.85RSD 388
5.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$3.97RSD 400
159.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$0.68RSD 68.4
151.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$0.94RSD 95.0
174.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.90RSD 91.0
-43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
$27.38RSD 2,758
-3.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$1.94RSD 195
68.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$0.73RSD 73.8
241.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$9.89RSD 996
-67.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$1.83RSD 184
-28.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$30.7KRSD 3.1M
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$27.0KRSD 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)
$82.9MX$1,447
$64.4RSD 6,487
28.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$10.11RSD 1,019
119.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$23.87RSD 2,405
22.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
$30.05RSD 3,027
71.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
$16.46RSD 1,658
11.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$8.02RSD 808
-36.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$457RSD 46.0K
-56.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$5,163RSD 520.2K
0.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$102RSD 10.3K
-63.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$42.21RSD 4,252
-5.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$65.0RSD 6,546
20.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$118RSD 11.9K
-25.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
$377RSD 38.0K
158.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
$292RSD 29.5K
59.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
$566RSD 57.0K
190.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
$412RSD 41.5K
196.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
$1,901RSD 191.5K
107.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
$1,376RSD 138.7K
372.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bečej
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
$539RSD 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared