😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $924 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,506 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,088 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 39% more than Ohrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ohrid are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Ohrid31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$7.29MKD 385
63.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$33.29MKD 1,755
28.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.58MKD 347
60.94%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.22MKD 117
63.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.97MKD 104
-25.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.28MKD 67.4
-26.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.57MKD 135
20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.40MKD 179
31.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.29MKD 67.9
10.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.83MKD 43.59
126.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.74MKD 91.7
-6.32%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.25MKD 119
17.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.52MKD 449
-3.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$8.08MKD 426
2.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$13.53MKD 713
-17.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.02MKD 53.9
159.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.41MKD 74.3
6.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.37MKD 72.4
45.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.06MKD 108
0.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.82MKD 43.00
118.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.98MKD 51.5
122.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.71MKD 37.51
52.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.59MKD 30.90
76.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.11MKD 164
27.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.62MKD 296
81.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.11MKD 58.4
55.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.36MKD 71.9
83.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.10MKD 57.9
-52.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$21.21MKD 1,118
27.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.95MKD 50.3
230.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.52MKD 27.64
361.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$7.53MKD 397
-58.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.46MKD 77.1
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
-7.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$29.0KMKD 1.5M
-19.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$160MKD 8,425
-48.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$18.18MKD 959
23.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$19.68MKD 1,038
50.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$35.03MKD 1,847
48.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$18.91MKD 997
-1.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.71MKD 354
-25.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$285MKD 15.0K
-30.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$3,514MKD 185.3K
50.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$77.1MKD 4,066
-52.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$39.09MKD 2,061
2.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$99.2MKD 5,233
-19.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$111MKD 5,855
-19.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$228MKD 12.0K
322.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$170MKD 8,962
173.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$570MKD 30.0K
180.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$463MKD 24.4K
161.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,168MKD 114.3K
81.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,369MKD 72.2K
370.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$642MKD 33.9K
12.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.54
151.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ohrid: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $228 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 12% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Ohrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $207 – 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 39% 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 vs Ohrid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,387 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 Ohrid?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $285 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 Ohrid?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 Ohrid?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ohrid, where all-in costs run around $924, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $924 versus $1,287 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 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