😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,010 in Resita, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,523 in Resita, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,035 in Resita, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 24% more than Resita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Resita are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Resita24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$9.36RON 42.94
28.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$46.15RON 212
-9.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.86RON 31.47
56.71%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.88RON 8.63
86.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.04RON 9.37
-28.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.80RON 8.27
-51.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.32RON 10.67
27.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.54RON 16.25
27.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.36RON 6.22
5.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.22RON 5.59
50.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.58RON 7.25
-0.63%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.23RON 14.83
-22.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$7.88RON 36.16
5.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.05RON 27.78
39.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$8.62RON 39.55
23.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.17RON 5.35
123.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.57RON 7.23
-8.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.66RON 7.62
18.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$2.11RON 9.67
-0.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.66RON 3.01
180.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.88RON 4.06
146.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.06RON 4.85
-2.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.86RON 3.96
24.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$6.11RON 28.04
-32.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$5.32RON 24.41
91.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.02RON 4.69
64.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.80RON 8.26
40.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.76RON 3.50
-32.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$19.95RON 91.6
30.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.78RON 3.58
314.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.74RON 3.41
225.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$9.16RON 42.06
-64.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.60RON 7.36
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$27.9KRON 128.0K
6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$26.4KRON 121.4K
-10.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$139RON 636
-40.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$8.48RON 38.94
170.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$11.42RON 52.4
163.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$40.99RON 188
26.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$19.56RON 89.8
-5.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.99RON 32.08
-28.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$430RON 1,976
-54.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$6,902RON 31.7K
-22.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$68.7RON 316
-48.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$37.95RON 174
6.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$82.1RON 377
-4.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$95.6RON 439
-6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$388RON 1,781
144.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$287RON 1,318
65.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$596RON 2,736
175.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$434RON 1,991
179.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,967RON 9,030
106.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$1,425RON 6,540
354.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Resita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$826RON 3,790
-20.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.5
75.69%
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 Resita: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $388 in Resita. 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 26% higher in Resita, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $46.00 in Resita. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $195 in Resita – so Resita 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 Resita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Resita cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,515 in Resita. 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 Resita, 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 Resita?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,010 in Resita. 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 31% less in Resita. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Resita?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Resita, where all-in costs run around $1,010, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Resita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Resita more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Resita – 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 Resita?
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 Resita. 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