😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $650 in Poltava, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,012 in Poltava, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,374 in Poltava, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 98% more than Poltava, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Poltava are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Poltava51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$5.74₴253
108.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$23.97₴1,057
78.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.67₴206
126.77%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.29₴56.9
180.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.64₴28.07
129.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.46₴20.19
104.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$0.88₴38.86
251.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$1.64₴72.3
171.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.02₴44.82
40.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.66₴29.14
184.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.28₴56.6
27.34%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.71₴75.4
54.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.22₴362
-0.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.78₴167
119.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$5.31₴234
109.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$0.78₴34.23
239.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.20₴53.0
25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.27₴56.2
56.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.54₴67.9
35.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.40₴17.59
347.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.55₴24.24
296.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.66₴28.89
63.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.59₴25.81
76.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.04₴89.9
94.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.13₴226
98.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$0.89₴39.25
94.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.60₴70.3
56.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.25₴11.06
108.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$14.29₴630
88.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.98₴87.4
58.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.18₴7.87
1233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$4.48₴197
-31.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.31₴57.6
-3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$27.1K₴1.2M
13.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.3K₴894.2K
14.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$93.5₴4,122
-12.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$4.54₴200
394.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$4.82₴212
515.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$13.63₴601
280.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$9.32₴411
100.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$4.73₴209
5.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$269₴11.9K
-26.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$7,611₴335.4K
-30.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$69.8₴3,078
-47.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$25.97₴1,145
54.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$77.4₴3,411
3.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$83.3₴3,669
6.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$261₴11.5K
268.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$158₴6,960
194.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$435₴19.2K
266.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$319₴14.1K
279.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$904₴39.8K
336.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Poltava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$445₴19.6K
62.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
17.5
-34.74%
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 Poltava: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $261 in Poltava. 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 62% 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 $24.00 in Poltava. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $142 – making Poltava 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 Poltava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Poltava cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 98%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $974 in Poltava. 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 Poltava, 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 Poltava?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $650 in Poltava. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 89% less in Poltava. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Poltava?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Poltava, where all-in costs run around $650, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Poltava it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Poltava more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Poltava – 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 Poltava?
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 Poltava. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared