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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,539 in Berane.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,411 in Berane.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,284 in Berane.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 18% less than in Berane, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Berane is 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$16.50 €14.07
-29.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$65.5 €55.9
-36.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$11.35 €9.69
-8.37%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$2.96 €2.53
21.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$2.16 €1.84
-31.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$1.49 €1.27
-38.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$3.55 €3.03
-14.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$3.86 €3.30
15.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$1.38 €1.18
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$1.15 €0.98
60.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$2.42 €2.06
-33.47%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$3.26 €2.78
-21.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$8.83 €7.53
-3.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$8.34 €7.11
1.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$11.83 €10.09
-7.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$1.29 €1.10
111.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$1.74 €1.48
-13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$1.67 €1.43
17.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$2.90 €2.48
-26.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$1.04 €0.89
78.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$1.28 €1.09
69.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$1.72 €1.47
-37.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$1.19 €1.01
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$4.38 €3.74
-4.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$4.74 €4.05
116.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$1.28 €1.09
30.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$1.72 €1.47
44.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.43 €1.22
-62.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
$38.21 €32.59
-31.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$1.18 €1.01
162.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$1.01 €0.86
143.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$17.04 €14.53
-80.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$1.73 €1.47
-27.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$29.7K €25.4K
1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$26.5K €22.6K
-11.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$162 €138
-48.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$18.70 €15.95
18.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$33.26 €28.37
-10.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$44.61 €38.05
18.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
$14.31 €12.21
28.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$5.65 €4.82
-12.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$407 €347
-51.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$10.2K €8,711
-47.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$118 €100
-69.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$49.01 €41.81
-18.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$111 €94.3
-28.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$201 €171
-56.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$729 €622
33.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$545 €465
-13.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$1,279 €1,091
24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$914 €780
32.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$4,250 €3,626
-5.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$2,856 €2,436
130.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Berane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
$593 €506
20.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.93
92.58%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Berane: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $729 in Berane. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $66 in Berane. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $236, with Berane cheaper for home cooking.

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 Berane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berane cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Berane?
Playa del Carmen pays 20% 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 Berane?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $729 in Berane. 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 Berane?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,539 in Berane – a 22% 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 Playa del Carmen runs roughly 45% less than in Berane. 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 Berane?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,539 in Berane, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Berane. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Berane more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Berane, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Berane?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Berane 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Berane. 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

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