Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Pabna Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Pabna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $313 in Pabna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $524 in Pabna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $735 in Pabna, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 311% more than Pabna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Pabna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Pabna 77% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$2.00 ৳246
497.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$12.77 ৳1,568
234.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$5.05 ৳620
109.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.15 ৳510
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.80 ৳589
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.27 ৳279
59.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.22 ৳27.06
568.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.16 ৳19.12
487.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.51 ৳62.3
180.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.70 ৳85.6
168.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$0.50 ৳61.7
226.00%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.29 ৳159
104.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$6.91 ৳848
18.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$1.66 ৳204
399.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$5.45 ৳669
103.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.67 ৳205
58.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$0.68 ৳83.2
120.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.50 ৳185
32.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$0.30 ৳37.14
593.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.37 ৳45.25
383.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.48 ৳59.0
354.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.33 ৳39.98
227.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.28 ৳34.13
271.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$8.58 ৳1,053
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.84 ৳471
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.13 ৳875
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$2.87 ৳352
38.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.20 ৳24.54
160.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$10.10 ৳1,240
167.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$1.22 ৳149
157.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.40 ৳48.94
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$3.11 ৳382
-0.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.08 ৳132
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$29.2K ৳3.6M
5.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$28.0K ৳3.4M
-16.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$20.72 ৳2,544
295.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$4.84 ৳594
363.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$12.95 ৳1,590
129.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$13.51 ৳1,659
283.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$11.96 ৳1,468
56.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$4.03 ৳495
23.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$32.46 ৳3,984
509.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$1,969 ৳241.7K
167.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$9.19 ৳1,128
295.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$24.66 ৳3,027
62.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$47.80 ৳5,868
67.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$36.69 ৳4,504
142.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$68.7 ৳8,432
1302.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$42.09 ৳5,167
1004.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$163 ৳20.0K
881.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$95.3 ৳11.7K
1167.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$591 ৳72.6K
566.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$401 ৳49.2K
1507.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pabna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$123 ৳15.1K
486.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10.52
8.56%

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 Pabna: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $68.7 in Pabna. 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 487% 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 $13.00 in Pabna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $91.0 – making Pabna 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 Pabna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pabna cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 311%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $470 in Pabna. 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 Pabna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $32.46 in Pabna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Pabna?
Groceries cost about 175% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Pabna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pabna, where all-in costs run around $313, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Pabna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Pabna more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pabna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pabna. 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.

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