😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,134 in Burgas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,714 in Burgas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,294 in Burgas, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 14% more than Burgas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Burgas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Burgas15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$11.93BGN 19.85
-1.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$41.19BGN 68.5
1.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.95BGN 14.89
18.88%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.55BGN 4.25
38.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.31BGN 2.18
15.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.65BGN 1.08
49.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.00BGN 3.32
47.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.98BGN 4.96
49.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.66BGN 2.76
-16.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.93BGN 1.55
103.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.95BGN 3.24
-15.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$3.36BGN 5.59
-25.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$9.66BGN 16.06
-13.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.91BGN 13.16
5.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$11.53BGN 19.18
-6.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.96BGN 3.27
32.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$2.07BGN 3.44
-29.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$2.01BGN 3.34
-5.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.57BGN 4.27
-19.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.44BGN 2.39
23.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.31BGN 2.17
67.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.02BGN 1.69
1.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.77BGN 1.28
40.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$3.52BGN 5.85
15.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$6.68BGN 11.12
54.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.02BGN 1.70
67.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.73BGN 2.88
49.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.90BGN 1.50
-43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$34.91BGN 58.1
-24.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.21BGN 2.01
169.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.67BGN 1.11
271.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$13.22BGN 21.99
-75.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.54BGN 2.57
-14.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$32.1KBGN 53.5K
-5.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$26.0KBGN 43.2K
-9.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$93.3BGN 155
-11.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$16.36BGN 27.21
35.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$14.05BGN 23.37
108.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$30.89BGN 51.4
67.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$15.05BGN 25.03
21.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$8.65BGN 14.39
-41.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$234BGN 388
-14.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$4,083BGN 6,793
27.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$59.6BGN 99.1
-38.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$42.36BGN 70.5
-6.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$80.9BGN 135
-3.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$71.6BGN 119
21.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$508BGN 845
91.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$386BGN 643
21.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$885BGN 1,472
85.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$615BGN 1,023
98.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,512BGN 4,179
57.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,817BGN 3,023
257.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Burgas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,024BGN 1,703
-35.15%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Burgas: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $508 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 54% 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 Burgas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $1,134 in Burgas – roughly 14% 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,700 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 Burgas?
Public transport costs about 32% 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $234 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 $1,134, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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 $1,134 in Burgas to $1,297 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared