🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,877 in Pacov.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,696 in Pacov.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,514 in Pacov.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 30% less than in Pacov, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Pacov is 36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$9.33Kč 195
28.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$805
$44.88Kč 938
5.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$200
$13.14Kč 274
-10.58%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.1
$3.05Kč 63.7
35.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.78
$2.82Kč 58.9
-50.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.50
$1.43Kč 29.93
-36.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.5
$1.45Kč 30.31
121.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$5.55Kč 116
27.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.49
$1.64Kč 34.33
2.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.53
$1.46Kč 30.48
47.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.14
$3.17Kč 66.3
-44.16%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.83
$5.63Kč 118
-49.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$12.81Kč 268
-28.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$9.51Kč 199
-2.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$215
$22.67Kč 474
-44.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.47Kč 30.68
100.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.83
$2.70Kč 56.4
-41.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.76
$3.87Kč 80.8
-42.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.15
$3.50Kč 73.1
-32.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.86
$1.06Kč 22.22
87.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.63
$2.17Kč 45.43
-8.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.07
$1.33Kč 27.84
-6.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.58
$0.81Kč 16.88
49.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.2
$3.84Kč 80.1
19.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$179
$7.18Kč 150
46.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.74
$0.85Kč 17.76
98.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.13
$1.77Kč 36.94
56.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.24
$1.17Kč 24.50
-48.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$505
$25.85Kč 540
14.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$89.0
$2.41Kč 50.4
117.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$62.0
$0.99Kč 20.61
268.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.3
$28.96Kč 605
-80.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.13
$1.81Kč 37.80
-14.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$387.4K
$32.7KKč 683.1K
-30.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$438.5K
$31.1KKč 649.4K
-16.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,540
$292Kč 6,091
-68.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$428
$24.01Kč 502
4.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$19.59Kč 409
62.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,169
$103Kč 2,149
-33.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$499
$17.54Kč 366
67.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.6
$13.96Kč 292
-65.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,834
$496Kč 10.4K
-54.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.2K
$10.8KKč 226.3K
-61.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$805
$120Kč 2,513
-60.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$738
$77.4Kč 1,616
-43.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,363
$184Kč 3,843
-56.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,552
$129Kč 2,700
-29.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$742Kč 15.5K
46.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,943
$615Kč 12.8K
-33.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$1,269Kč 26.5K
55.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.8K
$955Kč 20.0K
34.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.7K
$4,739Kč 99.0K
-14.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.9K
$4,901Kč 102.4K
36.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pacov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$1,182Kč 24.7K
-34.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.85
45.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Pacov: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $742 in Pacov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pacov pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $45.00 in Pacov. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $321, with Playa del Carmen 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 Pacov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Pacov?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Pacov. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Pacov?
On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Pacov. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Pacov?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $742 in Pacov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Pacov?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 15% less than in Pacov. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Pacov?
Childcare runs $226 in Playa del Carmen versus $496 in Pacov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Pacov?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,877 in Pacov, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Pacov. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Pacov?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,305 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Pacov?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Pacov 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Pacov. 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