🙂A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,395 in Pabianice, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,058 in Pabianice, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,721 in Pabianice, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 7% cheaper than Pabianice, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Pabianice is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$10.32zł 38.31
13.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$48.08zł 179
-3.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$9.24zł 34.31
26.08%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$3.63zł 13.47
12.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.91zł 7.10
-28.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$1.71zł 6.37
-51.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$2.73zł 10.14
22.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$4.33zł 16.08
59.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.19
$1.03zł 3.83
67.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.20
$1.12zł 4.15
101.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.90
$1.40zł 5.22
26.43%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.18
$3.04zł 11.30
-10.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$8.43zł 31.32
8.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$6.30zł 23.42
41.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$12.56zł 46.64
0.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$1.16zł 4.31
160.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.54
$1.68zł 6.25
-6.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.92
$1.57zł 5.85
35.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.27
$3.10zł 11.50
-27.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.87
$0.89zł 3.30
124.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.89
$0.97zł 3.61
112.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$1.45zł 5.37
-18.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.59zł 2.21
103.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$4.77zł 17.71
-2.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$6.95zł 25.83
53.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.37
$1.17zł 4.36
38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.69
$1.83zł 6.81
57.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$1.15zł 4.29
-50.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$30.32zł 113
-1.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$2.12zł 7.87
157.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$0.61zł 2.25
506.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$6.87zł 25.52
-12.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
$1.62zł 6.02
-4.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.3K
$32.6Kzł 121.2K
-31.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
$27.7Kzł 102.9K
-6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,506
$196zł 728
-54.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$8.82zł 32.78
183.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$17.64zł 65.5
78.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
$38.88zł 144
74.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
$20.03zł 74.4
44.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$7.82zł 29.06
-35.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,802
$259zł 962
-13.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$5,279zł 19.6K
-20.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$76.6zł 284
-38.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$40.48zł 150
11.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$87.7zł 326
-6.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,556
$101zł 376
-9.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$634zł 2,356
68.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,850
$519zł 1,928
-21.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$1,054zł 3,916
83.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$849zł 3,154
53.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$3,078zł 11.4K
29.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$2,312zł 8,587
186.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pabianice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$1,015zł 3,771
-26.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.21
84.38%
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 Pabianice: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $634 in Pabianice. 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 36% higher in Pabianice, 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 $48.00 in Pabianice. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Playa del Carmen vs $212 in Pabianice – so Pabianice wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Pabianice: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pabianice cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Pabianice is pricier by about 8%, 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 $2,093 in Pabianice. 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Pabianice?
Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Pabianice – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Pabianice?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $48.00 in Pabianice. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Pabianice?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Pabianice at $1,395. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pabianice it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Pabianice more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Pabianice?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pabianice makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared