😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,096 in Cacak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,641 in Cacak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,186 in Cacak.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 17% more expensive than Cacak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Cacak18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$7.35RSD 737
62.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$38.84RSD 3,894
10.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$10.91RSD 1,093
-2.93%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$1.55RSD 155
133.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$2.12RSD 213
-30.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$1.44RSD 144
-34.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$2.52RSD 253
22.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$2.64RSD 265
68.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.30RSD 130
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$0.76RSD 76.0
147.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$2.81RSD 282
-41.99%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$2.70RSD 270
-2.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$3.93RSD 394
108.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$6.82RSD 684
21.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$12.82RSD 1,286
-13.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$1.30RSD 130
103.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$1.90RSD 191
-21.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$1.56RSD 156
27.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$2.56RSD 257
-18.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$1.01RSD 101
77.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$0.94RSD 94.4
131.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$0.81RSD 80.8
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$0.57RSD 56.9
82.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$4.56RSD 457
-12.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$5.58RSD 559
82.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$0.85RSD 85.3
103.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$2.20RSD 221
13.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$0.99RSD 99.0
-47.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
$27.80RSD 2,787
-2.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$1.99RSD 199
57.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$0.69RSD 69.0
247.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$9.32RSD 934
-66.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$1.71RSD 172
-25.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$27.4KRSD 2.8M
12.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$28.6KRSD 2.9M
-18.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$146RSD 14.7K
-43.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$19.67RSD 1,973
14.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$19.90RSD 1,996
49.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$30.90RSD 3,098
67.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
$16.48RSD 1,652
13.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$6.25RSD 627
-20.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$339RSD 34.0K
-41.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$7,268RSD 728.7K
-27.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$107RSD 10.7K
-66.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$46.26RSD 4,638
-13.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$125RSD 12.6K
-36.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$141RSD 14.1K
-36.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$373RSD 37.4K
158.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$294RSD 29.4K
58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$574RSD 57.6K
177.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$416RSD 41.7K
190.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$2,139RSD 214.4K
84.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
$1,578RSD 158.2K
308.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$757RSD 75.9K
-4.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.31
56.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Cacak: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $373 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $39.00 in Cacak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $199 per month, with Cacak cheaper across the board.
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 Cacak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cacak cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Cacak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Cacak?
On paper, Cacak earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Cacak?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $373 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $339 in Cacak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Cacak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Cacak?
At $1,096 in Cacak versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cacak but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cacak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Cacak more family-friendly?
For families, Cacak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Cacak?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Cacak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cacak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared