Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Korolyov

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,326 in Korolyov, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Korolyov, Russia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Korolyov
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,326
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Korolyov actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Korolyov.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Korolyov $1,326

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,956 in Korolyov.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Korolyov $1,956

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,585 in Korolyov.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Korolyov $2,585

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 9% less than in Korolyov, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Korolyov 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$12.33 ₽994
-11.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$60.9 ₽4,908
-28.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$7.52 ₽607
56.65%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$2.84 ₽229
34.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$0.97 ₽78.2
31.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$0.55 ₽44.64
41.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$1.00 ₽81.0
217.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$1.46 ₽118
237.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.26 ₽102
11.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$0.85 ₽68.6
161.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$1.27 ₽102
11.81%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$1.60 ₽129
57.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$9.55 ₽770
-23.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$6.15 ₽496
25.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$12.18 ₽982
4.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$1.68 ₽136
65.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$1.52 ₽123
-9.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$1.60 ₽129
59.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$3.77 ₽304
-43.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$0.75 ₽60.4
158.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$0.41 ₽33.09
360.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$1.46 ₽118
-21.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$1.01 ₽81.6
16.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$2.27 ₽183
89.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$11.30 ₽911
-11.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$0.76 ₽60.9
107.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$1.58 ₽127
68.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$1.01 ₽81.6
-45.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$3.81 ₽307
30.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$0.19 ₽15.40
1652.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$3.69 ₽298
45.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$0.84 ₽67.8
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$44.8K ₽3.6M
-53.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$39.9K ₽3.2M
-41.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$131 ₽10.6K
-35.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$5.01 ₽404
367.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$8.81 ₽711
225.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$149 ₽12.0K
-61.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$5.68 ₽458
-9.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$188 ₽15.2K
9.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$3,666 ₽295.7K
7.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$62.5 ₽5,041
-30.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$30.88 ₽2,490
34.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$148 ₽12.0K
-49.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$126 ₽10.2K
-29.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$557 ₽44.9K
75.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$456 ₽36.8K
-16.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$851 ₽68.6K
100.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$563 ₽45.4K
90.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$2,483 ₽200.3K
58.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
$2,217 ₽178.8K
177.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Korolyov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$1,257 ₽101.4K
-41.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
19.58
-41.52%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Korolyov
$456 19.7% $75
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Korolyov
$222 12.9% $33
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Korolyov
$169 16.3% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Korolyov
$145 5.8% $8
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Korolyov
$165 48.1% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Korolyov
$160 138% $93
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Korolyov
$8.8 * 82.5% $42

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $557 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 71% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $61 in Korolyov. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $222, with Korolyov cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇷🇺 Korolyov
🕒 Local time
16:36 4:36 PM
00:36 12:36 AM
8 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
225,299
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.65 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.78 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Korolyov 10,060 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Korolyov

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 Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Korolyov?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Korolyov. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Korolyov?
On paper, salaries run 42% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Korolyov?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $557 in Korolyov. 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 Korolyov?
Shoppers in Korolyov pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Korolyov?
All in, you’ll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Korolyov – Playa del Carmen is about 9% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Korolyov?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Korolyov?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Korolyov?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Korolyov 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

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