😐A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $999 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,590 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,181 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 33% more than Ohrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ohrid are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Ohrid27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$7.56MKD 397
72.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$37.29MKD 1,955
24.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$7.61MKD 399
65.44%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$2.76MKD 145
44.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$3.02MKD 159
-52.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$1.85MKD 96.8
-56.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$3.70MKD 194
-17.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$4.76MKD 250
43.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.28MKD 67.2
33.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$0.73MKD 38.27
204.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.80MKD 94.2
-4.44%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.26MKD 118
19.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$8.56MKD 449
9.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$8.57MKD 449
3.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$14.79MKD 775
-13.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$1.06MKD 55.5
195.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.33MKD 69.6
16.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.55MKD 81.5
38.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.97MKD 103
19.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.16MKD 60.7
74.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.48MKD 77.7
34.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$1.11MKD 58.3
11.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.76MKD 40.04
56.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$3.42MKD 179
35.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$5.80MKD 304
80.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.14MKD 59.5
38.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$1.60MKD 83.8
82.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$1.11MKD 58.0
-49.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
$24.85MKD 1,303
19.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.14MKD 60.0
366.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$0.97MKD 50.9
283.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$9.29MKD 487
-37.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.55MKD 81.5
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$31.4KMKD 1.6M
-28.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$31.1KMKD 1.6M
-17.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$132MKD 6,909
-32.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$18.95MKD 994
22.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$28.39MKD 1,489
11.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$34.62MKD 1,815
98.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
$18.77MKD 984
56.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$6.54MKD 343
-22.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$283MKD 14.9K
-21.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$3,537MKD 185.4K
21.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$101MKD 5,271
-54.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$54.5MKD 2,858
-18.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$102MKD 5,335
-6.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$135MKD 7,057
-31.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$291MKD 15.3K
267.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$178MKD 9,308
121.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$567MKD 29.7K
250.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$374MKD 19.6K
248.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$2,118MKD 111.0K
90.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$1,366MKD 71.6K
385.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
$634MKD 33.2K
17.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
7.3
58.90%
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 Ohrid: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $291 in Ohrid. 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 18% 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Ohrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $219 – making Ohrid 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 Ohrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ohrid?
Playa del Carmen costs about 33% more than Ohrid, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Ohrid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,498 in Ohrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Ohrid?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ohrid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ohrid?
Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $283 in Ohrid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Ohrid?
Groceries cost about 27% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Ohrid?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ohrid, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Ohrid 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 Ohrid?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ohrid costs $999 versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Ohrid?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Ohrid?
If budget matters most, go with Ohrid. 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