Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kolasin

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Kolasin: $1,202 and $1,218 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Kolasin, Montenegro
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Kolasin
🇲🇪 Montenegro
$1,218
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Kolasin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Kolasin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,202 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,218 in Kolasin.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Kolasin $1,218

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,902 in Kolasin.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Kolasin $1,902

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,962 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,586 in Kolasin.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Kolasin $2,586

Monthly costs are close between Playa del Carmen and Kolasin; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Kolasin 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$5.54 €4.92
92.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$27.43 €24.37
59.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$9.08 €8.07
29.85%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$1.49 €1.32
154.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$1.81 €1.61
-28.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$1.14 €1.01
-27.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$2.87 €2.55
9.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$2.72 €2.42
81.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.14 €1.01
23.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$0.95 €0.84
131.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$2.85 €2.53
-48.42%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.47
$3.11 €2.76
-19.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$8.92 €7.92
-18.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$7.37 €6.54
7.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$12.73 €11.30
1.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$1.32 €1.18
119.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$1.55 €1.38
-10.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.36
$1.57 €1.39
58.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.78
$3.02 €2.68
-32.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.69
$0.94 €0.83
114.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$1.29 €1.15
47.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$1.46 €1.30
-21.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.06
$0.87 €0.77
42.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$3.98 €3.53
7.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$4.37 €3.88
124.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$1.23 €1.09
29.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$1.77 €1.57
55.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$1.70 €1.51
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$38.45 €34.16
-28.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$1.15 €1.02
313.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$1.10 €0.98
195.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$17.03 €15.13
-68.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$1.69 €1.50
-9.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$31.8K €28.2K
-33.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$21.6K €19.2K
7.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$89.3 €79.3
-6.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$13.27 €11.79
74.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$28.14 €25.00
-1.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$47.87 €42.52
17.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
$14.76 €13.11
90.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$7.67 €6.81
-34.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$441 €391
-52.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.4K
$7,018 €6,234
-25.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$85.1 €75.6
-48.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$33.59 €29.84
26.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$73.3 €65.1
-0.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$94.5 €83.9
-6.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$659 €585
51.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$499 €443
-23.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$1,337 €1,188
25.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$1,012 €899
6.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$3,716 €3,301
5.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$2,357 €2,094
160.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kolasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
$860 €764
-3.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
7
63.57%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kolasin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Kolasin
$499 30.4% $116
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Kolasin
$224 13% $34
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Kolasin
$121 39.6% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Kolasin
$131 2.7% $3.6
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Kolasin
$129 15.9% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Kolasin
$63 4.9% $3.2
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Kolasin
$52 2.9% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Playa del Carmen and $659 in Kolasin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolasin pays 3% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $44 in Playa del Carmen vs $27 in Kolasin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $224 per month, with Kolasin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇲🇪 Kolasin
🕒 Local time
10:38 10:38 AM
16:38 4:38 PM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
2,900
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.86 MXN (100 MXN = 4.79 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.888 EUR (1 EUR = 1.13 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Kolasin 9,730 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Kolasin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kolasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Playa del Carmen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kolasin?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $659 in Kolasin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Kolasin?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 29% less than in Kolasin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Kolasin pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $1,500 go in Playa del Carmen compared to Kolasin?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Playa del Carmen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kolasin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Kolasin?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Kolasin on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?