😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $693 in Brest, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,111 in Brest, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,529 in Brest, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 81% more than Brest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Brest are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Brest48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$7.49BYN 21.56
60.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$29.44BYN 84.8
41.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.77BYN 19.50
58.79%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.49BYN 4.29
134.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.77BYN 2.21
88.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.68BYN 1.96
29.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.24BYN 3.57
137.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.80BYN 8.08
61.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.81BYN 2.34
76.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.67BYN 1.93
174.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$0.83BYN 2.38
89.16%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.37BYN 3.94
83.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$6.78BYN 19.53
22.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$3.52BYN 10.13
139.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$3.62BYN 10.43
195.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.30BYN 3.74
100.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.67BYN 4.81
-13.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.76BYN 5.06
11.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.76BYN 5.06
18.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.76BYN 2.19
143.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.85BYN 2.45
155.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.31BYN 3.77
-21.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.10BYN 3.17
-2.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$1.80BYN 5.19
127.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$8.22BYN 23.68
23.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.09BYN 3.15
54.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.81BYN 5.21
39.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.30BYN 0.86
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$14.60BYN 42.06
78.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.09BYN 6.01
54.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.64BYN 1.83
276.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$6.01BYN 17.31
-46.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$0.82BYN 2.38
60.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$17.5KBYN 50.3K
70.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$25.9KBYN 74.5K
-8.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$50.8BYN 146
61.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$8.62BYN 24.84
166.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$22.44BYN 64.6
34.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$29.13BYN 83.9
78.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$4.70BYN 13.54
5.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$311BYN 895
-36.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$5,642BYN 16.2K
-5.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$47.41BYN 137
-24.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$35.98BYN 104
12.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$105BYN 302
-24.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$80.1BYN 231
11.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$338BYN 973
180.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$171BYN 492
177.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$489BYN 1,408
236.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$308BYN 888
292.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$2,473BYN 7,123
63.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,933BYN 8,448
120.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$558BYN 1,608
17.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11
3.82%
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 Brest: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $338 in Brest. 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 Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.00 in Brest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $153 – making Brest 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 Brest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Brest?
Playa del Carmen costs about 81% more than Brest, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Brest?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,039 in Brest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Brest?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Brest?
Groceries cost about 63% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Brest?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $29.00 in Brest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Brest?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Brest, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Brest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Brest?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brest costs $693 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Brest?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Brest?
If budget matters most, go with Brest. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared