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: $1,260 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 Carmen 5% lower, Cacak 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$7.47 RSD 760
56.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$39.47 RSD 4,015
6.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$10.73 RSD 1,091
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$1.63 RSD 165
120.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$2.13 RSD 217
-29.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$1.44 RSD 146
-36.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$2.64 RSD 269
12.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$2.54 RSD 258
73.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$1.26 RSD 129
11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$0.76 RSD 77.7
147.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$2.81 RSD 285
-44.48%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$2.56 RSD 261
1.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$3.99 RSD 406
108.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$6.79 RSD 691
22.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$12.52 RSD 1,273
-13.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$1.25 RSD 127
116.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$1.85 RSD 188
-18.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$1.56 RSD 159
19.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$2.43 RSD 247
-9.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$0.93 RSD 95.0
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$0.88 RSD 89.1
153.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$0.77 RSD 77.8
38.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.61 RSD 61.6
78.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$4.34 RSD 441
-3.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$5.42 RSD 551
92.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$0.89 RSD 90.6
86.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$2.21 RSD 225
18.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$0.98 RSD 99.5
-44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$28.11 RSD 2,859
-6.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$1.95 RSD 198
57.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$0.64 RSD 65.5
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$9.55 RSD 971
-67.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$1.68 RSD 171
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$27.5K RSD 2.8M
8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$28.2K RSD 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)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$146 RSD 14.9K
-44.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$19.42 RSD 1,976
16.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$19.53 RSD 1,987
53.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$30.16 RSD 3,067
75.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$16.23 RSD 1,650
13.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$6.32 RSD 643
-22.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$341 RSD 34.7K
-41.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$7,344 RSD 747.0K
-29.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$109 RSD 11.1K
-67.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$46.54 RSD 4,733
-13.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$125 RSD 12.7K
-36.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$135 RSD 13.8K
-36.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$380 RSD 38.6K
157.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$291 RSD 29.6K
61.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$555 RSD 56.5K
197.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$412 RSD 42.0K
191.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$2,177 RSD 221.4K
81.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$1,629 RSD 165.7K
305.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$752 RSD 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.

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