😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $728 in Cherkasy, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,104 in Cherkasy, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,480 in Cherkasy, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 75% more than Cherkasy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Cherkasy are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Cherkasy46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$207
$7.15₴318
66.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$749
$25.34₴1,128
69.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$186
$6.01₴267
77.20%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$60.2
$1.16₴51.5
197.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$26.24
$0.61₴27.03
145.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.56
$0.35₴15.78
171.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.8
$1.20₴53.4
152.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$80.4
$1.91₴84.9
141.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.01
$1.02₴45.25
35.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.66₴29.31
180.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$28.11
$1.06₴47.24
51.89%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.26
$1.61₴71.7
60.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$144
$9.95₴443
-16.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$146
$4.08₴182
105.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$186
$9.37₴417
13.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.89
$0.77₴34.10
241.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.96
$1.62₴72.0
-8.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.50
$1.68₴74.7
14.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.41
$2.52₴112
-17.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.42
$0.75₴33.51
148.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.47
$0.45₴20.04
402.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.54
$1.62₴72.2
-34.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.98
$0.44₴19.41
147.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.4
$2.37₴105
75.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$181
$3.46₴154
200.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$30.09
$0.81₴36.14
112.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.60
$1.67₴74.3
56.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.46
$0.41₴18.16
31.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$470
$8.80₴392
206.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.6
$1.67₴74.5
87.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.82
$0.18₴8.22
1294.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$55.0
$5.74₴256
-45.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.25
$1.35₴59.9
-5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$530.1K
$30.0K₴1.3M
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.3K
$27.5K₴1.2M
-14.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,449
$86.3₴3,841
-3.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$396
$6.03₴269
276.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$514
$4.63₴206
536.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$890
$25.56₴1,138
99.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$320
$9.71₴432
88.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.0
$4.54₴202
8.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,444
$222₴9,886
-11.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$92.1K
$3,419₴152.2K
54.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$644
$63.5₴2,828
-41.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$696
$30.11₴1,340
32.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,396
$82.0₴3,648
-2.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,561
$97.3₴4,333
-8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.7K
$263₴11.7K
263.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,327
$191₴8,498
149.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.7K
$384₴17.1K
328.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.4K
$282₴12.5K
334.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$68.4K
$797₴35.5K
391.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$112.7K
$694₴30.9K
830.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cherkasy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.6K
$450₴20.0K
48.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
15.25
-25.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Cherkasy: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $263 in Cherkasy. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 48% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Cherkasy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $168 – making Cherkasy the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Cherkasy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cherkasy cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,092 in Cherkasy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cherkasy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 206% less in Cherkasy. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $222 in Cherkasy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Cherkasy?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cherkasy, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Cherkasy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Cherkasy more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cherkasy – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Cherkasy?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cherkasy. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared