😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,217 in Kragujevac.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,806 in Kragujevac.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,394 in Kragujevac.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 9% more expensive than in Kragujevac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Kragujevac11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$10.74RSD 1,076
21.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$44.96RSD 4,506
2.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$10.04RSD 1,006
25.40%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$2.00RSD 201
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$2.35RSD 236
-39.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$1.38RSD 138
-41.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$2.74RSD 274
11.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$3.43RSD 343
98.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.35RSD 135
26.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$0.65RSD 64.8
241.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.93RSD 193
-10.88%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.61RSD 261
3.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$10.21RSD 1,023
-8.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$6.74RSD 676
31.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$11.87RSD 1,189
7.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$1.22RSD 122
156.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.89RSD 190
-17.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.75RSD 175
22.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$2.36RSD 237
-0.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.15RSD 115
75.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.25RSD 125
59.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$1.08RSD 109
14.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.63RSD 62.7
88.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$4.33RSD 434
7.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$7.70RSD 772
35.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$0.92RSD 92.6
71.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$2.31RSD 231
26.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$1.44RSD 144
-61.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
$29.37RSD 2,943
1.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.45RSD 145
266.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$1.02RSD 102
264.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$5.40RSD 541
7.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.78RSD 178
-12.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$31.0KRSD 3.1M
-27.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$26.5KRSD 2.7M
-3.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$193RSD 19.4K
-53.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$28.35RSD 2,841
-17.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$32.58RSD 3,265
-2.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$30.26RSD 3,033
127.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
$20.74RSD 2,079
41.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$5.63RSD 565
-10.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$179RSD 17.9K
24.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$3,914RSD 392.3K
9.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$63.8RSD 6,394
-27.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$68.0RSD 6,816
-34.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$124RSD 12.4K
-23.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$120RSD 12.0K
-22.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$413RSD 41.4K
158.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$316RSD 31.6K
24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$655RSD 65.7K
203.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$501RSD 50.2K
160.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$2,227RSD 223.2K
81.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$1,619RSD 162.2K
309.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kragujevac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
$986RSD 98.8K
-24.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
4.84
139.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Kragujevac: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $413 in Kragujevac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kragujevac pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $45.00 in Kragujevac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $217 per month, with Kragujevac 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 Kragujevac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kragujevac?
Kragujevac wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kragujevac the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Kragujevac?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Kragujevac. 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 Kragujevac?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $413 in Kragujevac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Kragujevac?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,217 in Kragujevac – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Kragujevac?
A monthly transit pass in Kragujevac runs roughly 1% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Kragujevac?
At $1,217 in Kragujevac versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kragujevac but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kragujevac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kragujevac?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kragujevac delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,217 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kragujevac hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kragujevac?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kragujevac 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 Kragujevac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% 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