😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,118 in Cacak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,656 in Cacak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,195 in Cacak.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 13% more expensive than in Cacak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Cacak18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$7.58RSD 772
53.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$39.53RSD 4,028
19.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$11.79RSD 1,201
0.76%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$1.58RSD 161
151.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$2.47RSD 252
-42.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$1.52RSD 155
-46.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$2.51RSD 256
27.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.61RSD 266
160.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.26RSD 129
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.76RSD 77.2
189.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$2.80RSD 285
-38.93%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$2.66RSD 271
3.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$3.84RSD 392
149.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$7.38RSD 752
22.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$14.73RSD 1,501
-13.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.31RSD 133
120.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$2.01RSD 205
-25.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.73RSD 176
24.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$2.76RSD 281
-18.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$1.05RSD 107
88.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.70RSD 71.6
184.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$1.04RSD 106
18.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.60RSD 61.2
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$4.81RSD 490
-5.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.29RSD 743
42.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$0.99RSD 100
63.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$2.38RSD 242
21.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$1.02RSD 104
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$16.86RSD 1,718
70.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$2.03RSD 207
165.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.96RSD 97.8
288.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$11.10RSD 1,131
-48.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.76RSD 179
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$27.9KRSD 2.8M
-19.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$26.6KRSD 2.7M
-2.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$148RSD 15.1K
-38.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$19.67RSD 2,004
28.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$20.07RSD 2,045
55.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$31.25RSD 3,184
115.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
$13.70RSD 1,396
112.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$7.32RSD 746
-33.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$384RSD 39.2K
-41.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$7,775RSD 792.3K
-45.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$121RSD 12.4K
-61.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$45.28RSD 4,614
-2.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$143RSD 14.5K
-43.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$143RSD 14.6K
-35.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$320RSD 32.6K
232.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$271RSD 27.6K
44.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$459RSD 46.8K
368.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$386RSD 39.4K
229.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$2,161RSD 220.2K
85.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$1,575RSD 160.5K
312.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$756RSD 77.1K
0.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5.23
118.93%
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 Cacak: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $320 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $40.00 in Cacak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $214 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 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Cacak?
Average pay runs 0% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Cacak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $320 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $384 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 in Cacak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Cacak?
At $1,118 in Cacak versus $1,266 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 13% 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