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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,147 in Burgas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,731 in Burgas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,315 in Burgas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 9% more than Burgas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Burgas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Burgas 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$11.85 BGN 19.71
1.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$40.52 BGN 67.4
3.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$8.67 BGN 14.42
23.99%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$2.45 BGN 4.08
42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$1.38 BGN 2.29
5.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$0.66 BGN 1.09
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$2.08 BGN 3.46
41.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$2.87 BGN 4.77
57.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$1.63 BGN 2.72
-12.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$0.94 BGN 1.57
95.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$1.90 BGN 3.15
-17.37%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$3.39 BGN 5.63
-25.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$9.69 BGN 16.12
-14.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$7.81 BGN 13.00
7.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$11.38 BGN 18.92
-6.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$1.89 BGN 3.14
38.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$2.11 BGN 3.51
-31.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$2.07 BGN 3.45
-5.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$2.48 BGN 4.12
-15.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$1.51 BGN 2.51
22.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$1.37 BGN 2.27
58.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$1.02 BGN 1.69
0.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$0.83 BGN 1.39
28.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$3.63 BGN 6.03
12.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$7.04 BGN 11.70
44.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$0.99 BGN 1.65
69.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$1.79 BGN 2.99
41.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
$0.86 BGN 1.43
-40.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
$36.00 BGN 59.9
-27.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
$1.22 BGN 2.04
164.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$0.71 BGN 1.18
239.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$13.21 BGN 21.97
-75.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$1.48 BGN 2.46
-10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$32.8K BGN 54.5K
-9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$25.8K BGN 42.9K
-8.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$95.6 BGN 159
-14.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$16.53 BGN 27.49
38.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$13.72 BGN 22.82
119.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$30.39 BGN 50.6
71.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
$15.57 BGN 25.90
19.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$9.10 BGN 15.15
-45.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$238 BGN 395
-16.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$4,104 BGN 6,827
30.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$60.4 BGN 100
-41.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$41.12 BGN 68.4
-1.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$83.5 BGN 139
-5.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$70.8 BGN 118
25.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$512 BGN 852
84.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
$386 BGN 642
22.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$869 BGN 1,445
89.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$612 BGN 1,018
97.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
$2,594 BGN 4,316
56.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
$1,864 BGN 3,102
247.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.5K
$1,021 BGN 1,698
-35.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.57
149.89%

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 Burgas: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $512 in Burgas. 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 56% higher in Burgas, 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 $41.00 in Burgas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $236 – making Burgas 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 Burgas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Burgas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $1,147 in Burgas – roughly 9% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Burgas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,721 in Burgas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Burgas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burgas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Burgas?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Burgas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Burgas?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $238 in Burgas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgas, where all-in costs run around $1,147, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Burgas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Burgas?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,147 in Burgas to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Burgas safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Burgas?
If budget matters most, go with Burgas. 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.

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