😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $857 in Haskovo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,393 in Haskovo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,929 in Haskovo.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 46% more expensive than in Haskovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Haskovo36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$10.14BGN 16.87
18.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$40.55BGN 67.5
3.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.65BGN 14.39
24.28%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.02BGN 3.36
73.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.21BGN 2.02
19.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.66BGN 1.09
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$1.31BGN 2.18
125.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.00BGN 4.99
50.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.62BGN 2.70
-11.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.71BGN 1.18
159.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.72BGN 2.87
-8.72%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.43BGN 5.71
-26.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$9.58BGN 15.93
-13.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$7.82BGN 13.01
7.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$8.37BGN 13.92
27.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.59BGN 2.64
64.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.92BGN 3.20
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.46BGN 2.43
34.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.88BGN 3.12
11.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.84BGN 1.40
120.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.23BGN 2.04
76.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.82BGN 1.37
25.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.65BGN 1.09
64.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$3.66BGN 6.10
12.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$7.49BGN 12.46
35.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$0.86BGN 1.42
95.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.70BGN 2.83
48.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.89BGN 1.48
-42.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$23.36BGN 38.86
11.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$1.15BGN 1.91
180.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.67BGN 1.11
259.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$13.25BGN 22.04
-75.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.50BGN 2.50
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$28.7KBGN 47.7K
3.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$24.9KBGN 41.5K
-5.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$93.5BGN 156
-12.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$13.18BGN 21.93
74.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$9.55BGN 15.89
215.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$55.5BGN 92.4
-6.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$29.24BGN 48.64
-36.63%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$8.17BGN 13.59
-39.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$239BGN 398
-17.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$2,354BGN 3,917
126.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$47.16BGN 78.5
-24.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$41.93BGN 69.8
-3.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$80.1BGN 133
-1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$72.2BGN 120
23.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$235BGN 391
302.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$170BGN 282
179.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$378BGN 629
334.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$315BGN 525
283.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,219BGN 2,027
232.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$981BGN 1,632
559.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Haskovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,102BGN 1,832
-40.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.57
149.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Haskovo: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $235 in Haskovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Haskovo pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $41.00 in Haskovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $210 per month, with Haskovo cheaper across the board.
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 Haskovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Haskovo?
Haskovo wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Haskovo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Haskovo?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Haskovo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Haskovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $235 in Haskovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Haskovo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Haskovo?
Dining out is cheaper in Haskovo – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Haskovo?
At $857 in Haskovo versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Haskovo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Haskovo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Haskovo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Haskovo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $857 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Haskovo hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Haskovo?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Haskovo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Haskovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared