Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mykolaiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mykolaiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $722 in Mykolaiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,119 in Mykolaiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,516 in Mykolaiv, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 79% more than Mykolaiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Mykolaiv are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Mykolaiv 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$8.86 ₴395
32.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$788
$22.01 ₴982
111.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$5.76 ₴257
102.26%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$1.18 ₴52.4
246.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$0.55 ₴24.71
149.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.37 ₴16.55
124.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$0.83 ₴36.84
303.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$1.54 ₴68.7
348.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.20
$1.18 ₴52.5
46.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.21
$0.73 ₴32.57
209.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.91
$1.52 ₴67.7
16.45%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.19
$1.84 ₴82.1
48.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$9.68 ₴432
-5.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$4.39 ₴196
103.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$7.65 ₴341
64.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$1.08 ₴48.30
179.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.55
$1.57 ₴69.9
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.93
$1.46 ₴65.2
45.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.28
$2.15 ₴95.8
5.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.88
$0.78 ₴34.73
156.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.90
$0.49 ₴21.88
320.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$1.02 ₴45.55
15.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.45 ₴20.05
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.4
$2.76 ₴123
67.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$3.62 ₴161
195.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.38
$0.58 ₴25.83
179.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.70
$1.15 ₴51.4
150.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$0.33 ₴14.54
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$11.38 ₴508
162.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$1.61 ₴71.9
238.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$0.35 ₴15.68
957.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$4.43 ₴197
34.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.26
$1.52 ₴67.9
1.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.4K
$30.0K ₴1.3M
-25.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.7K
$19.4K ₴866.3K
33.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,507
$154 ₴6,877
-42.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$5.89 ₴263
325.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$7.06 ₴315
346.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,146
$26.91 ₴1,200
151.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$8.32 ₴371
247.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.4
$3.30 ₴147
53.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,803
$245 ₴10.9K
-8.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$4,037 ₴180.1K
4.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$42.41 ₴1,892
11.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$25.14 ₴1,121
78.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$61.9 ₴2,759
32.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,557
$101 ₴4,512
-8.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$196 ₴8,759
444.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,852
$131 ₴5,843
209.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$364 ₴16.2K
431.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$266 ₴11.9K
388.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$744 ₴33.2K
437.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$514 ₴22.9K
1189.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mykolaiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$426 ₴19.0K
75.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
40
-71.38%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mykolaiv: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $196 in Mykolaiv. 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 76% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $22.00 in Mykolaiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $163 – making Mykolaiv the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mykolaiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mykolaiv cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,083 in Mykolaiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mykolaiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Mykolaiv?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $22.00 in Mykolaiv. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Mykolaiv?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $722 in Mykolaiv. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Mykolaiv?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mykolaiv, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Mykolaiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mykolaiv more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mykolaiv – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mykolaiv. 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.

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