😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,002 in Oktyabr'skiy.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,548 in Oktyabr'skiy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,094 in Oktyabr'skiy.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 25% more expensive than in Oktyabr'skiy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Oktyabr'skiy25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$208
$12.78₽1,002
-6.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$730
$51.1₽4,007
-17.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$181
$5.87₽460
77.51%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.2
$2.39₽187
46.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.39
$1.23₽96.6
23.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.85
$0.65₽50.6
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$52.9
$1.16₽90.8
162.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.1
$2.61₽204
67.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.73
$1.11₽87.3
27.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.87
$0.65₽50.9
181.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.45
$1.23₽96.1
32.52%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.20
$1.76₽138
44.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$149
$9.25₽725
-7.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$148
$5.22₽409
62.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$188
$8.64₽677
25.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.56₽122
76.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.00
$1.88₽147
-23.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.84
$2.27₽178
-16.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.77
$2.36₽185
-8.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.97
$0.68₽53.2
161.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.71
$0.48₽37.47
362.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.60
$1.81₽142
-40.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.79
$0.57₽44.99
89.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.2
$2.97₽233
39.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$182
$4.48₽351
133.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.34
$0.88₽68.7
97.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.93
$2.24₽175
15.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.94
$0.49₽38.20
4.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$452
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$55.9
$3.44₽269
-6.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.55
$0.33₽25.79
657.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.4
$3.75₽294
-14.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.87
$0.72₽56.1
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$516.7K
$49.6K₽3.9M
-40.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.2K
$43.2K₽3.4M
-45.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$121₽9,463
-32.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$396
$6.72₽526
238.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$512
$8.59₽673
242.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$908
$35.41₽2,775
47.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$85.9
$4.02₽315
22.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,512
$318₽24.9K
-36.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$90.8K
$6,040₽473.3K
-13.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$625
$101₽7,881
-64.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$48.14₽3,772
-16.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$125₽9,769
-35.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,554
$76.7₽6,010
16.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.5K
$439₽34.4K
116.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,098
$300₽23.5K
55.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.4K
$773₽60.6K
110.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.8K
$514₽40.3K
132.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.5K
$1,955₽153.2K
101.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$111.9K
$1,386₽108.6K
363.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
15.33
-25.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Last update for Oktyabr'skiy: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $439 in Oktyabr'skiy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $51.0 in Oktyabr'skiy. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $184, with Oktyabr'skiy cheaper for home cooking.
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 Oktyabr'skiy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oktyabr'skiy cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Oktyabr'skiy is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $1,503 in Oktyabr'skiy to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Oktyabr'skiy?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $439 in Oktyabr'skiy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $318 in Oktyabr'skiy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Oktyabr'skiy?
Dining out is cheaper in Oktyabr'skiy – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Oktyabr'skiy?
At $1,002 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Oktyabr'skiy but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Oktyabr'skiy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Oktyabr'skiy more family-friendly?
For families, Oktyabr'skiy is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Oktyabr'skiy?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Oktyabr'skiy 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Oktyabr'skiy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% 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