😐A single person spends $1,215 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $986 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,144 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,532 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,078 in Ohrid, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 23% more than Ohrid, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ohrid are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen9% lower, Ohrid26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97MX$197
$7.29MKD 397
50.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85MX$806
$35.81MKD 1,949
25.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.92MX$214
$7.21MKD 393
65.33%
Cappuccino
$3.80MX$68.4
$2.74MKD 149
38.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31MX$23.57
$3.05MKD 166
-57.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86MX$15.39
$1.79MKD 97.4
-51.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$57.7
$3.61MKD 197
-11.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01MX$90.1
$4.50MKD 245
11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46MX$26.20
$1.29MKD 70.0
13.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33MX$41.81
$0.70MKD 38.12
232.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.92
$1.72MKD 93.9
-16.28%
Eggs
$2.46MX$44.23
$2.16MKD 117
13.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.70MX$138
$8.04MKD 438
-4.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.89MX$142
$8.43MKD 459
-6.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.80MX$230
$14.28MKD 778
-10.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92MX$52.4
$1.01MKD 55.2
189.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MX$25.55
$1.31MKD 71.6
8.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57MX$46.10
$1.56MKD 85.2
64.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14MX$38.41
$1.93MKD 105
10.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95MX$34.99
$1.12MKD 61.1
74.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94MX$34.79
$1.41MKD 76.8
37.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15MX$20.68
$1.07MKD 58.4
7.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22MX$21.94
$0.78MKD 42.62
56.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MX$78.6
$3.18MKD 173
37.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.85MX$177
$5.50MKD 299
79.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54MX$27.63
$1.05MKD 57.1
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72MX$48.80
$1.55MKD 84.6
75.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.43
$1.07MKD 58.5
-51.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.42MX$493
$23.69MKD 1,290
15.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.91MX$88.3
$1.08MKD 58.7
354.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.52MX$63.3
$0.90MKD 48.98
291.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.69MX$102
$8.83MKD 481
-35.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$27.67
$1.44MKD 78.5
6.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KMX$381.7K
$30.1KMKD 1.6M
-29.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KMX$440.0K
$30.1KMKD 1.6M
-18.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6MX$1,502
$125MKD 6,809
-33.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03MX$432
$18.41MKD 1,002
30.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33MX$527
$27.05MKD 1,472
8.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.9MX$1,166
$33.61MKD 1,830
93.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46MX$529
$17.88MKD 974
64.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09MX$91.4
$6.54MKD 356
-22.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$208MX$3,732
$269MKD 14.7K
-22.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,045MX$72.7K
$3,428MKD 186.6K
18.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55MX$801
$96.5MKD 5,254
-53.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06MX$756
$53.1MKD 2,889
-20.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5MX$1,357
$101MKD 5,490
-25.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,642
$133MKD 7,217
-31.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986MX$17.7K
$284MKD 15.5K
247.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$385MX$6,921
$168MKD 9,163
128.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,713MX$30.8K
$538MKD 29.3K
218.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,108MX$19.9K
$366MKD 19.9K
203.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,016MX$72.2K
$2,114MKD 115.1K
89.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,247MX$112.3K
$1,326MKD 72.2K
371.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ohrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.6K
$619MKD 33.7K
22.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.3
56.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Last update for Ohrid: October 3, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Playa del Carmen versus $284 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 23% 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 $45.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $36.00 in Ohrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $213 – 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 23% more than Ohrid, 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 and in Ohrid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,823 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,479 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 $208 per month in Playa del Carmen and $269 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 22% 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 $986, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,215. 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 $986 versus $1,215 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