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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $963 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,460 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,957 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 3% lower, Bijeljina 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$8.90 BAM 14.96

31.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$35.33 BAM 59.4

17.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$4.99 BAM 8.39

113.23%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$1.44 BAM 2.41

144.44%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$1.73 BAM 2.90

-12.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.09 BAM 1.83

-11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$1.80 BAM 3.02

63.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$2.38 BAM 3.99

86.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.20 BAM 2.02

57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-5.20%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$3.10 BAM 5.21

-19.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.98 BAM 13.41

4.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$8.05 BAM 13.52

3.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$12.18 BAM 20.47

-11.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$1.67 BAM 2.81

55.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.85 BAM 3.10

-21.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.83 BAM 3.07

3.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$2.67 BAM 4.49

-22.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.60 BAM 2.69

11.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$1.47 BAM 2.47

48.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$1.14 BAM 1.91

-8.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.67 BAM 1.12

61.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$3.73 BAM 6.27

9.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$9.02 BAM 15.15

14.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$0.84 BAM 1.42

103.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$1.45 BAM 2.44

77.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$2.41 BAM 4.04

-78.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$17.94 BAM 30.15

47.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$1.45 BAM 2.43

124.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.56 BAM 0.93

344.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$11.77 BAM 19.78

-72.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.41 BAM 2.37

-7.09%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

15.52%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

-11.47%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$141 BAM 237

-41.21%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$19.14 BAM 32.16

16.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$24.88 BAM 41.79

17.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$30.66 BAM 51.5

68.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$8.80 BAM 14.78

108.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$5.06 BAM 8.50

0.20%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$214 BAM 359

-6.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$3,300 BAM 5,544

57.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$58.6 BAM 98.4

-36.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$26.71 BAM 44.87

48.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$135 BAM 227

-41.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$124 BAM 208

-29.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$259 BAM 436

274.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$167 BAM 281

179.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$370 BAM 622

343.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$291 BAM 488

319.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$1,891 BAM 3,177

108.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$1,425 BAM 2,394

355.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$759 BAM 1,276

-12.55%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $259 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 14% 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: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $963 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,444 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $963 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 47% 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 $963, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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 $963 in Bijeljina to $1,297 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.