😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $854 in Dubna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,414 in Dubna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,974 in Dubna, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 52% more than Dubna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Dubna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Dubna36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$10.30₽760
13.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$30.12₽2,222
38.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$4.09₽302
160.15%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$1.50₽110
134.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$1.11₽81.7
36.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$0.36₽26.86
169.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$1.58₽116
86.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$1.56₽115
185.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$1.18₽86.7
16.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$0.78₽57.4
142.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$1.16₽85.7
41.38%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$1.63₽121
53.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$10.36₽765
-19.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$4.53₽334
84.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$11.93₽880
-10.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$1.47₽109
76.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$1.86₽137
-21.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$2.05₽151
-7.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$3.19₽235
-34.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$0.77₽57.0
131.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$0.74₽54.5
195.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.70₽125
-38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$0.74₽54.5
45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$2.52₽186
61.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$5.44₽402
89.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$0.86₽63.2
98.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$1.26₽92.7
104.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
$0.71₽52.3
-28.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
$2.50₽185
30.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
$0.45₽32.88
453.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$7.89₽582
-58.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$0.81₽59.9
61.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$38.3K₽2.8M
-20.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$36.5K₽2.7M
-35.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$148₽10.9K
-43.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$8.11₽599
173.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$8.10₽598
262.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$14.95₽1,103
245.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$6.38₽471
-20.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$327₽24.1K
-38.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$7,025₽518.4K
-25.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$71.7₽5,291
-48.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$52.3₽3,859
-23.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$114₽8,439
-31.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$165₽12.2K
-47.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
$192₽14.2K
406.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
$141₽10.4K
232.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$628₽46.3K
161.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.2K
$438₽32.3K
178.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.4K
$3,030₽223.5K
30.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.6K
$2,379₽175.5K
173.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Dubna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,550₽114.4K
-57.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11
3.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Dubna: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $192 in Dubna. 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 134% higher in Dubna, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Dubna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $200 – making Dubna 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 Dubna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Dubna?
Playa del Carmen costs about 52% more than Dubna, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Dubna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,281 in Dubna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Dubna?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dubna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Dubna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $854 in Dubna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Dubna?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $327 in Dubna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Dubna?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dubna, where all-in costs run around $854, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Dubna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Dubna?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dubna costs $854 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Dubna?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Dubna?
If budget matters most, go with Dubna. 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