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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,588 in Rijeka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,336 in Rijeka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,084 in Rijeka, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 19% cheaper than Rijeka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Rijeka is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$202
$12.50 €10.76
-6.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$719
$70.1 €60.3
-40.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$179
$10.35 €8.92
0.58%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.1
$2.31 €1.99
56.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.06
$3.58 €3.08
-59.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.70
$2.18 €1.88
-55.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.3
$4.39 €3.78
-33.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$79.5
$4.91 €4.23
-5.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.59
$1.18 €1.02
21.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.70
$1.63 €1.40
16.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.95
$4.13 €3.56
-61.99%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.34
$3.65 €3.14
-27.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$145
$16.49 €14.20
-48.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$148
$11.08 €9.54
-22.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$189
$14.38 €12.38
-23.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.51
$1.60 €1.37
68.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$25.92
$1.65 €1.42
-8.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$32.93
$1.70 €1.46
12.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.37
$2.59 €2.23
-16.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.25
$1.19 €1.03
57.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.43
$1.31 €1.13
70.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$1.08 €0.93
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.47
$1.22 €1.05
-12.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$71.6
$5.88 €5.07
-29.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$177
$8.27 €7.12
24.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.95
$1.59 €1.37
5.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.59
$2.01 €1.73
25.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.53
$1.92 €1.66
-71.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$452
$54.7 €47.13
-51.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.0
$5.88 €5.06
-45.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.37
$1.32 €1.14
86.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.0
$29.49 €25.40
-89.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.72
$1.68 €1.45
-21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$518.8K
$38.9K €33.5K
-22.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$402.5K
$26.6K €22.9K
-11.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,400
$190 €164
-57.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$386
$22.33 €19.22
0.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$516
$32.90 €28.33
-8.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$887
$51.2 €44.06
0.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$316
$14.88 €12.81
23.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$88.9
$9.20 €7.92
-43.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,471
$294 €253
-31.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$91.4K
$16.7K €14.4K
-68.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$613
$93.5 €80.5
-61.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$695
$34.79 €29.95
16.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,353
$98.5 €84.9
-20.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,495
$105 €90.5
-17.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.3K
$667 €575
42.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,227
$528 €455
-9.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$27.9K
$1,023 €881
58.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.0K
$762 €656
60.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.0K
$4,293 €3,697
-6.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$111.4K
$4,011 €3,454
61.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Rijeka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.6K
$1,527 €1,315
-55.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.63
146.65%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Rijeka: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $667 in Rijeka. 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 127% higher in Rijeka, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $70.0 in Rijeka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $299 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Rijeka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rijeka cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Rijeka is pricier by about 23%, 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,382 in Rijeka. 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Rijeka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $1,588 in Rijeka. 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 108% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Rijeka?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Rijeka at $1,588. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rijeka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Rijeka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Rijeka?
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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rijeka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities