😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $807 in Gradiska, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,293 in Gradiska, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,779 in Gradiska, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 57% more than Gradiska, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Gradiska are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Gradiska41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$5.86BAM 9.93
97.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$808
$38.41BAM 65.1
22.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$7.20BAM 12.19
65.00%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$1.68BAM 2.84
136.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.46
$1.73BAM 2.92
-17.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.14
$1.27BAM 2.16
-35.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$1.81BAM 3.07
76.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$116
$2.32BAM 3.93
192.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.72
$1.39BAM 2.36
20.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.67
$1.12BAM 1.89
96.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.29
$1.68BAM 2.84
1.79%
Eggs
$2.74MX$46.99
$3.55BAM 6.01
-22.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$7.41BAM 12.55
29.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$154
$7.53BAM 12.75
19.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$15.95BAM 27.02
-19.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.52
$1.12BAM 1.89
158.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.67
$1.47BAM 2.48
2.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.83
$1.24BAM 2.10
73.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.74
$1.64BAM 2.77
37.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.96
$1.44BAM 2.43
37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.11
$0.86BAM 1.46
131.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.16
$1.65BAM 2.80
-25.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.52
$0.85BAM 1.44
41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.0
$3.80BAM 6.44
19.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$8.15BAM 13.80
27.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.76
$1.06BAM 1.79
52.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.39
$1.08BAM 1.83
166.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.29
$2.90BAM 4.91
-79.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.4
$1.75BAM 2.96
208.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$63.9
$1.01BAM 1.71
269.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$98.9
$10.47BAM 17.73
-44.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.34
$1.47BAM 2.49
4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$386.6K
$32.1KBAM 54.3K
-29.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$446.7K
$21.4KBAM 36.2K
21.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,567
$88.9BAM 151
2.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$432
$19.29BAM 32.68
30.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$24.04BAM 40.71
29.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,152
$26.04BAM 44.10
158.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$499
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.86BAM 4.85
69.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,834
$152BAM 257
47.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.5K
$13.6KBAM 23.0K
-68.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$58.0BAM 98.2
-18.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$759
$29.90BAM 50.6
48.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,373
$73.3BAM 124
9.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,589
$117BAM 199
-21.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$176BAM 299
502.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,690
$149BAM 252
162.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.8K
$385BAM 652
457.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$327BAM 554
288.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.6K
$1,441BAM 2,440
177.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.5K
$1,276BAM 2,162
409.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gradiska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
$695BAM 1,177
9.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.3
166.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Gradiska: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $176 in Gradiska. 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 9% 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 $38.00 in Gradiska. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $228 – making Gradiska 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 Gradiska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gradiska cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 57%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,211 in Gradiska. 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 Gradiska, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Gradiska?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $38.00 in Gradiska. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Gradiska?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Gradiska?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gradiska, where all-in costs run around $807, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Gradiska it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gradiska more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gradiska – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gradiska. 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