😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,019 in Prokuplje, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,482 in Prokuplje, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,944 in Prokuplje, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 23% more than Prokuplje, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Prokuplje are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Prokuplje24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$7.59RSD 776
57.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$29.72RSD 3,040
40.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$10.07RSD 1,030
6.75%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$1.91RSD 195
83.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$1.88RSD 192
-22.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$1.26RSD 129
-30.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$2.40RSD 246
22.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$2.91RSD 298
54.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$1.30RSD 133
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$0.61RSD 62.7
201.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$1.78RSD 182
-11.80%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$2.42RSD 248
3.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$8.11RSD 830
2.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$6.69RSD 685
26.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$11.67RSD 1,194
-8.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$1.15RSD 117
126.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$1.78RSD 182
-19.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$1.45RSD 148
35.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$1.81RSD 185
15.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$1.02RSD 104
81.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$1.14RSD 116
90.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$0.55RSD 56.6
87.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.56RSD 57.4
91.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$4.10RSD 420
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$5.74RSD 587
77.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$0.69RSD 70.3
143.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$2.10RSD 214
20.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$0.98RSD 100
-47.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$27.71RSD 2,835
-6.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$1.04RSD 107
210.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$0.42RSD 43.07
473.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$5.08RSD 520
-36.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$1.76RSD 180
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$30.4KRSD 3.1M
-2.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$27.1KRSD 2.8M
-12.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$138RSD 14.1K
-40.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$16.82RSD 1,721
36.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$22.23RSD 2,274
35.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$30.43RSD 3,113
70.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$16.77RSD 1,716
10.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$4.89RSD 501
1.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$180RSD 18.4K
9.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$4,020RSD 411.3K
32.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$63.7RSD 6,515
-44.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$47.27RSD 4,836
-14.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$94.3RSD 9,643
-16.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$101RSD 10.3K
-11.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$374RSD 38.3K
152.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$295RSD 30.2K
60.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$569RSD 58.2K
189.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$420RSD 43.0K
188.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
$2,147RSD 219.7K
88.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
$1,753RSD 179.4K
269.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Prokuplje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.45
53.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Prokuplje: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $374 in Prokuplje. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Prokuplje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $193 – making Prokuplje 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 Prokuplje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prokuplje cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 23%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,529 in Prokuplje. 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 Prokuplje, 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 and in Prokuplje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,019 in Prokuplje. 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 6% less in Prokuplje. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Prokuplje?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Prokuplje, where all-in costs run around $1,019, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Prokuplje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Prokuplje more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Prokuplje – 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 Prokuplje?
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 Prokuplje. 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