😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $855 in Brest, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,349 in Brest, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,842 in Brest, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 48% more than Brest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Brest are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Brest37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$13.62BYN 41.14
-14.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$37.20BYN 112
26.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$6.40BYN 19.34
85.63%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$2.13BYN 6.43
86.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.97BYN 2.94
47.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.89BYN 2.70
-7.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$3.03BYN 9.15
5.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.98BYN 12.03
70.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.12BYN 3.37
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.94BYN 2.84
134.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.01BYN 3.05
69.31%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.54BYN 4.65
77.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$7.06BYN 21.31
35.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.55BYN 10.72
153.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$3.41BYN 10.29
275.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.94BYN 5.85
48.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.45BYN 7.41
-38.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$2.19BYN 6.62
-1.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$2.54BYN 7.67
-11.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.86BYN 2.60
130.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.63BYN 4.91
22.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$1.94BYN 5.86
-36.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$1.34BYN 4.05
-10.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$2.67BYN 8.06
70.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.60BYN 22.96
36.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.18BYN 3.55
37.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$1.99BYN 6.01
44.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.33BYN 0.99
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$15.98BYN 48.25
80.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.81BYN 2.44
565.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.52BYN 1.58
617.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$16.29BYN 49.18
-64.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$0.86BYN 2.59
79.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$18.6KBYN 56.1K
21.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$27.9KBYN 84.1K
-6.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$64.1BYN 193
42.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$11.36BYN 34.31
121.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$21.94BYN 66.3
42.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$33.20BYN 100
102.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$7.72BYN 23.30
277.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$5.24BYN 15.82
-7.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$327BYN 988
-31.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$6,096BYN 18.4K
-30.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$50.7BYN 153
-7.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$38.82BYN 117
14.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$134BYN 404
-40.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$85.4BYN 258
8.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$358BYN 1,082
196.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$177BYN 536
119.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$500BYN 1,510
329.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$320BYN 967
297.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$2,375BYN 7,174
68.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$2,783BYN 8,405
133.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$526BYN 1,588
44.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11
4.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Brest: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $358 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 44% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Brest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $181 – 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 48% 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,283 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 53% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $37.00 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 $855, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $855 versus $1,266 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