😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,128 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,719 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,310 in Kostroma, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 15% more than Kostroma, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kostroma are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Kostroma16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$12.88₽940
-8.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$57.5₽4,199
-27.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$6.26₽457
69.97%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$3.20₽234
10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.40₽102
7.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.67₽48.80
44.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$4.40₽321
-32.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$4.43₽323
0.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.24₽90.5
11.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.55₽39.84
243.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.58₽115
3.80%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.47₽108
70.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$9.22₽673
-9.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.54₽331
83.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$9.87₽720
8.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.48₽108
75.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.53₽112
-4.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.28₽93.3
48.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.29₽168
-9.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.99₽72.3
79.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.72₽52.4
204.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.17₽85.1
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.64₽46.78
68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$3.16₽231
29.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$6.28₽459
64.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.07₽78.0
59.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$2.36₽172
9.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.46₽33.58
10.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$21.87₽1,596
20.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.53₽112
113.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.12₽8.86
1975.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$7.52₽549
-56.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$0.79₽57.8
65.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$26.0K₽1.9M
16.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$29.5K₽2.2M
-20.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$149₽10.9K
-44.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$7.91₽577
180.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$5.04₽368
482.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$25.50₽1,862
102.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$6.49₽474
-21.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$703₽51.3K
-71.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$14.8K₽1.1M
-64.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$87.5₽6,389
-57.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$52.5₽3,834
-24.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$134₽9,760
-41.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$164₽12.0K
-46.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$444₽32.4K
119.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$301₽22.0K
55.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$768₽56.0K
113.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$499₽36.4K
144.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,088₽152.4K
88.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,051₽76.7K
518.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kostroma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,075₽78.5K
-38.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
14.67
-22.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Kostroma: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $444 in Kostroma. 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 62% higher in Kostroma, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $58.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $183 in Kostroma – so Kostroma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kostroma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kostroma?
Playa del Carmen costs about 15% more than Kostroma, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Kostroma?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,692 in Kostroma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Kostroma?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostroma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Kostroma?
Groceries cost about 36% 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.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Kostroma?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $58.0 in Kostroma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Kostroma?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Kostroma 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 Kostroma?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kostroma costs $1,128 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Kostroma?
If budget matters most, go with Kostroma. 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