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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Carmen 7% lower, Cacak 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$7.58 RSD 772
53.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$811
$39.53 RSD 4,028
19.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$11.79 RSD 1,201
0.76%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.5
$1.58 RSD 161
151.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.57
$2.47 RSD 252
-42.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.20
$1.52 RSD 155
-46.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.9
$2.51 RSD 256
27.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.61 RSD 266
160.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.85
$1.26 RSD 129
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.83
$0.76 RSD 77.2
189.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.41
$2.80 RSD 285
-38.93%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.20
$2.66 RSD 271
3.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$3.84 RSD 392
149.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$7.38 RSD 752
22.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$14.73 RSD 1,501
-13.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.74
$1.31 RSD 133
120.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.78
$2.01 RSD 205
-25.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.98
$1.73 RSD 176
24.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.91
$2.76 RSD 281
-18.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.10
$1.05 RSD 107
88.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.26
$0.70 RSD 71.6
184.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.25
$1.04 RSD 106
18.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.60
$0.60 RSD 61.2
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.3
$4.81 RSD 490
-5.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$7.29 RSD 743
42.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.88
$0.99 RSD 100
63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.60
$2.38 RSD 242
21.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.34
$1.02 RSD 104
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$496
$16.86 RSD 1,718
70.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.8
$2.03 RSD 207
165.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.2
$0.96 RSD 97.8
288.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.3
$11.10 RSD 1,131
-48.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.45
$1.76 RSD 179
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.3K
$27.9K RSD 2.8M
-19.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$448.7K
$26.6K RSD 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)
$91.4 MX$1,573
$148 RSD 15.1K
-38.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$434
$19.67 RSD 2,004
28.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$538
$20.07 RSD 2,045
55.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,157
$31.25 RSD 3,184
115.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$501
$13.70 RSD 1,396
112.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.7
$7.32 RSD 746
-33.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,851
$384 RSD 39.2K
-41.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.8K
$7,775 RSD 792.3K
-45.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$811
$121 RSD 12.4K
-61.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$763
$45.28 RSD 4,614
-2.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,379
$143 RSD 14.5K
-43.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,596
$143 RSD 14.6K
-35.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$320 RSD 32.6K
232.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,719
$271 RSD 27.6K
44.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.0K
$459 RSD 46.8K
368.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$386 RSD 39.4K
229.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.9K
$2,161 RSD 220.2K
85.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.0K
$1,575 RSD 160.5K
312.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$756 RSD 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.

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