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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $932 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,446 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,960 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 35% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Bijeljina 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

$9.08 BAM 15.52

32.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

$35.23 BAM 60.3

18.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

$5.07 BAM 8.67

112.03%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

$1.49 BAM 2.54

134.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.41

$1.74 BAM 2.98

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

$1.05 BAM 1.79

-16.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

$1.81 BAM 3.10

62.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

$2.39 BAM 4.08

88.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

$1.57 BAM 2.69

-8.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.23

$1.26 BAM 2.16

46.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

$1.75 BAM 2.99

-10.29%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$44.06

$3.14 BAM 5.36

-20.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

$7.71 BAM 13.18

7.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$148

$8.19 BAM 14.00

2.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

$12.18 BAM 20.82

-12.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

$1.61 BAM 2.75

62.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

$1.91 BAM 3.27

-24.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

$1.91 BAM 3.26

2.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.74

$2.73 BAM 4.68

-23.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

$1.58 BAM 2.71

17.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

$1.46 BAM 2.50

48.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

$1.18 BAM 2.02

-12.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.84

$0.66 BAM 1.14

62.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

$3.80 BAM 6.50

7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

$8.72 BAM 14.92

16.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

$0.86 BAM 1.48

95.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

$1.51 BAM 2.58

67.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

$2.38 BAM 4.07

-78.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

$17.85 BAM 30.52

45.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

$1.51 BAM 2.59

113.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

$0.57 BAM 0.97

322.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

$11.89 BAM 20.33

-72.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

$1.45 BAM 2.48

-8.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$520.9K

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

12.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$415.0K

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

-9.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,439

$144 BAM 246

-42.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$403

$18.99 BAM 32.48

20.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

$24.13 BAM 41.27

24.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

$30.33 BAM 51.9

71.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

$8.77 BAM 15.00

111.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

$4.87 BAM 8.34

2.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,463

$209 BAM 357

-5.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

$3,282 BAM 5,613

62.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

$57.5 BAM 98.4

-38.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

$26.84 BAM 45.90

50.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

$132 BAM 227

-40.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

$124 BAM 213

-28.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

$262 BAM 448

261.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

$172 BAM 294

176.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

$366 BAM 625

349.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

$293 BAM 501

313.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

$1,847 BAM 3,160

119.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

$1,370 BAM 2,343

372.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

$766 BAM 1,311

-14.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

90.33%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $262 in Bijeljina. 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 17% higher in Bijeljina, 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 $35.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $234 – making Bijeljina 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 Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $932 in Bijeljina – roughly 35% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,398 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $932 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Bijeljina to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bijeljina. 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.