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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $781 in Gevgelija, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,177 in Gevgelija, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,572 in Gevgelija, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 63% more than Gevgelija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Gevgelija are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Gevgelija 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$5.69 MKD 302
108.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$28.45 MKD 1,510
50.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$4.98 MKD 264
113.86%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$1.41 MKD 75.0
144.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.91 MKD 48.49
64.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.73 MKD 38.85
30.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$1.17 MKD 62.0
158.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$2.74 MKD 145
68.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.34 MKD 71.0
2.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$0.71 MKD 37.65
160.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$0.78 MKD 41.35
106.41%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$2.13 MKD 113
21.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$7.58 MKD 402
8.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$5.72 MKD 304
46.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$11.19 MKD 594
-4.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$1.02 MKD 54.2
157.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$1.15 MKD 61.0
29.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$1.26 MKD 67.1
52.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$1.56 MKD 83.0
33.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$0.53 MKD 28.29
250.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$0.40 MKD 21.08
465.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$0.40 MKD 21.11
165.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.53 MKD 28.00
105.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$2.49 MKD 132
66.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$3.76 MKD 200
176.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.00 MKD 53.0
72.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$1.48 MKD 78.3
76.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$0.64 MKD 34.00
-15.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$20.46 MKD 1,086
31.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$1.10 MKD 58.5
184.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$0.53 MKD 28.30
373.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$5.57 MKD 295
-43.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.44 MKD 76.5
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$32.0K MKD 1.7M
-4.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$33.9K MKD 1.8M
-30.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$92.9 MKD 4,927
-10.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$17.42 MKD 924
30.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$15.19 MKD 806
93.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$24.47 MKD 1,298
108.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$4.63 MKD 246
6.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$113 MKD 6,003
74.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$1,207 MKD 64.1K
337.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$77.2 MKD 4,096
-52.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$48.11 MKD 2,553
-17.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$56.4 MKD 2,994
41.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$114 MKD 6,044
-21.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$288 MKD 15.3K
232.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$194 MKD 10.3K
145.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$555 MKD 29.5K
196.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$309 MKD 16.4K
295.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gevgelija
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$581 MKD 30.8K
14.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6
90.33%

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 Gevgelija: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $288 in Gevgelija. 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 15% 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 $28.00 in Gevgelija. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $168 – making Gevgelija 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 Gevgelija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Gevgelija?
Playa del Carmen costs about 63% more than Gevgelija, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Gevgelija?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,172 in Gevgelija. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Gevgelija?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gevgelija, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Gevgelija?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $113 in Gevgelija. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Gevgelija?
Groceries cost about 49% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Gevgelija?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gevgelija, where all-in costs run around $781, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Gevgelija 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 Gevgelija?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gevgelija costs $781 versus $1,271 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 Gevgelija?
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 Gevgelija?
If budget matters most, go with Gevgelija. 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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