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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,051 in Polevskoy, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,601 in Polevskoy, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,151 in Polevskoy, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 21% more than Polevskoy, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Polevskoy are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Polevskoy 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$207
$6.26 ₽450
89.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$749
$44.85 ₽3,225
-4.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$186
$5.57 ₽400
91.20%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$60.2
$2.31 ₽166
49.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$26.24
$1.23 ₽88.6
21.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.56
$0.36 ₽25.99
163.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.8
$0.85 ₽61.2
256.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$80.4
$1.95 ₽140
136.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$24.01
$1.17 ₽83.9
17.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$0.69 ₽49.38
168.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$28.11
$1.44 ₽104
11.81%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.26
$1.80 ₽129
43.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$144
$10.28 ₽739
-19.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$146
$7.15 ₽514
17.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$186
$11.57 ₽832
-7.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.89
$1.86 ₽134
41.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.96
$1.99 ₽143
-25.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$33.50
$2.08 ₽149
-7.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.41
$3.57 ₽257
-41.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.42
$1.12 ₽80.2
66.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.47
$0.80 ₽57.8
182.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.54
$0.54 ₽38.87
96.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.98
$0.57 ₽41.08
91.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$72.4
$2.47 ₽178
68.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$181
$5.55 ₽399
87.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$30.09
$0.90 ₽64.6
91.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.60
$1.74 ₽125
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.46
$0.53 ₽38.01
1.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$470
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.6
$1.88 ₽135
66.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.82
$0.33 ₽23.48
660.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$55.0
$5.34 ₽384
-41.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.25
$0.78 ₽55.8
62.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$530.1K
$61.9K ₽4.5M
-50.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.3K
$31.5K ₽2.3M
-25.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,449
$141 ₽10.1K
-40.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$396
$9.55 ₽687
137.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$514
$7.66 ₽551
284.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$890
$35.84 ₽2,577
42.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$320
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$86.0
$5.74 ₽413
-14.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,444
$441 ₽31.7K
-55.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$92.1K
$4,464 ₽320.9K
18.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$644
$48.08 ₽3,457
-23.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$696
$43.62 ₽3,136
-8.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,396
$165 ₽11.9K
-51.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,561
$185 ₽13.3K
-51.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.7K
$451 ₽32.4K
112.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,327
$300 ₽21.6K
58.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.7K
$775 ₽55.7K
112.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.4K
$501 ₽36.0K
144.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$68.4K
$2,278 ₽163.8K
71.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$112.7K
$1,520 ₽109.3K
324.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Polevskoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
14.06
-18.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Polevskoy: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $451 in Polevskoy. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Polevskoy. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $213 in Polevskoy – so Polevskoy 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 Polevskoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polevskoy cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,577 in Polevskoy. 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 Polevskoy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Polevskoy?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,051 in Polevskoy. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $441 in Polevskoy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Polevskoy?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Polevskoy, where all-in costs run around $1,051, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Polevskoy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Polevskoy more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Polevskoy – 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 Polevskoy. 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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