😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,092 in Cacak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,625 in Cacak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,159 in Cacak.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 15% more expensive than in Cacak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Cacak18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$7.47RSD 760
56.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$39.47RSD 4,015
6.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$10.73RSD 1,091
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.63RSD 165
120.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$2.13RSD 217
-29.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.44RSD 146
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.64RSD 269
12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.54RSD 258
73.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.26RSD 129
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.76RSD 77.7
147.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$2.81RSD 285
-44.48%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.56RSD 261
1.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$3.99RSD 406
108.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.79RSD 691
22.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$12.52RSD 1,273
-13.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.25RSD 127
116.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.85RSD 188
-18.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.56RSD 159
19.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.43RSD 247
-9.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.93RSD 95.0
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.88RSD 89.1
153.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.77RSD 77.8
38.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.61RSD 61.6
78.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.34RSD 441
-3.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$5.42RSD 551
92.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.89RSD 90.6
86.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.21RSD 225
18.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.98RSD 99.5
-44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$28.11RSD 2,859
-6.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.95RSD 198
57.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.64RSD 65.5
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$9.55RSD 971
-67.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.68RSD 171
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$27.5KRSD 2.8M
8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$28.2KRSD 2.9M
-17.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$146RSD 14.9K
-44.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$19.42RSD 1,976
16.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$19.53RSD 1,987
53.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$30.16RSD 3,067
75.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$16.23RSD 1,650
13.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.32RSD 643
-22.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$341RSD 34.7K
-41.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$7,344RSD 747.0K
-29.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$109RSD 11.1K
-67.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$46.54RSD 4,733
-13.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$125RSD 12.7K
-36.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$135RSD 13.8K
-36.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$380RSD 38.6K
157.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$291RSD 29.6K
61.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$555RSD 56.5K
197.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$412RSD 42.0K
191.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$2,177RSD 221.4K
81.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,629RSD 165.7K
305.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$752RSD 76.5K
-10.06%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Cacak: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $380 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $39.00 in Cacak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $196 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Cacak?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Cacak. 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $380 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $341 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 $1,092 in Cacak versus $1,260 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 15% 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