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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $877 in Doboj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,352 in Doboj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,827 in Doboj, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 48% more than Doboj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Doboj are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Doboj 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$5.21 BAM 8.76
124.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$32.14 BAM 54.1
44.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$5.96 BAM 10.03
95.47%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$1.44 BAM 2.42
184.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$1.27 BAM 2.14
7.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.95 BAM 1.60
-12.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$1.50 BAM 2.53
123.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$1.47 BAM 2.47
370.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$1.27 BAM 2.13
36.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$1.00 BAM 1.68
126.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$1.22 BAM 2.05
45.08%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$2.81 BAM 4.74
-2.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$2.44 BAM 4.11
276.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$7.90 BAM 13.30
12.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$8.72 BAM 14.68
44.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$1.49 BAM 2.52
102.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$1.43 BAM 2.40
9.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$1.34 BAM 2.25
58.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$1.45 BAM 2.44
55.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$1.03 BAM 1.74
94.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$1.24 BAM 2.09
66.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$0.34 BAM 0.58
247.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.68 BAM 1.15
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$3.61 BAM 6.08
28.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$7.31 BAM 12.31
46.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$0.89 BAM 1.50
82.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$1.52 BAM 2.56
89.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$1.51 BAM 2.54
-62.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$54.4 BAM 91.5
-45.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$0.93 BAM 1.56
486.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$0.74 BAM 1.25
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$6.03 BAM 10.16
-0.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$1.55 BAM 2.61
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$22.0K BAM 37.1K
1.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$24.0K BAM 40.3K
8.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$166 BAM 280
-46.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$5.78 BAM 9.73
333.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$28.69 BAM 48.29
9.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
$34.27 BAM 57.7
97.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$11.93 BAM 20.07
142.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$5.94 BAM 10.00
-14.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$118 BAM 199
90.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$3,983 BAM 6,703
6.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$48.23 BAM 81.2
-1.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$34.89 BAM 58.7
28.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$90.0 BAM 152
-8.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$103 BAM 174
-10.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$198 BAM 333
440.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
$164 BAM 276
147.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$339 BAM 571
470.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$326 BAM 548
299.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$1,327 BAM 2,233
201.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$1,798 BAM 3,026
268.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Doboj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$542 BAM 912
38.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.08
180.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Doboj: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $198 in Doboj. 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 38% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Doboj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $178 – making Doboj 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 Doboj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Doboj cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 48%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,315 in Doboj. 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 Doboj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Doboj?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Doboj?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $32.00 in Doboj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Doboj?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Doboj, where all-in costs run around $877, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Doboj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Doboj more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Doboj – 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 Doboj?
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 Doboj. 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.

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